France and Japan are both world leaders in design ¡ª but if you¡¯re wanting to keep up with fashion, Paris is the unmissable trendsetter, while Tokyo is a backwater. It¡¯s looking similar in the world of automobiles.
Last week¡¯s Paris Motor Show was a chance for a tariff-buttressed European car industry to showcase its ability to fight back against affordable, innovative Chinese electric vehicle imports. The buzz was palpable half a world away: Renault, Stellantis and Volkswagen all teased new EVs around or below a competitive €25,000 ($27,000) price level. Cheeky, crazy designs might even pique the interest of Europeans who increasingly seem to be drifting toward a post-car era.
Blink and you might have missed the fact that Japan¡¯s auto sector was displaying its wares at the same time. What¡¯s more, you¡¯d be forgiven for thinking the EV revolution wasn¡¯t happening at all.
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