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For an event at which so many new cars were unveiled, there was a strangely familiar feeling to the Paris motor show. Everywhere you looked were classic models and recognisable nameplates, reinvented for a new generation.
The headline-grabber was the return of the Citroën 2CV showcasing a new £13,000 EV that could be built to the new 'E-car' regulations allowing for cheap, European-made electric vehicles. But from where the 2CV was perched proudly on Citroën's stand you could see other reinvented retro revivals: the Fiat Multiplay and Multiplina, which confusingly both nodded back to two very different Multipla models of the past. Peugeot masked its new 208 in bodywork inspired by the legendary Group B T16, and also wheeled out a 2+2 that revived the RCZ.
Go up the stairs into the neighbouring show hall and you'd find Renault's efforts with the E-Space and the stunning 8 Gordini concepts, on a stand that was also brimming with 4s, 5s, Twingos and the R5 Turbo 3E. Its premium sibling Alpine's offering was a sports car concept inspired by the 1970s A310.
All the new models at the Paris motor show
All very familiar then, but the reason for that was evident elsewhere in the show halls: the significant amount of Chinese brands present. It wasn't long ago that China's manufacturers were curiosities at a European motor show; now they were represented in all four halls, and were the dominant force in two of them.
And they had some hugely credible machines on display: the Renault 5-rivalling Leapmotor B03, the seven-seat BYD Atto 8 and the sub-£25k Omoda 4 to give just a few examples. They are compelling cars from brands that are already significant forces in the UK and Europe, but how many buyers could pick them out of a line-up? Will any of them be distinctive enough that you could imagine a retro revival of them in 50 or 60 years?
It explains why European firms have so readily embraced retro design – but it's no longer the only trick in their arsenal. Local manufacturers have come a long way on EV technology and batteries and software, and no longer seem afraid of the pace or tech their Chinese rivals bring. Renault Group boss François Provost declared that, when it came to technology, "we are not afraid of anyone".
Mixing advancing tech with a bit of friendly nostalgia is a proven winning strategy for the European car firms. But, as the latest SMMT sales figures show, the Chinese advance isn't slowing. So the quest now is for a level playing field.
'In Europe for Europe' is the mantra of car firms now: Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis were all campaigning for regulations that enable them to make cars in the region and sell them profitably. Such measures could include the proposed E-car regulations, amendments to the EU's planned 2035 ban on the sale of non-zero-emission cars (and, in the UK, the zero-emission vehicle mandate), and the proposed Industial Accelerator Act that could offer incentives for locally produced models.
The irony is that the European firms aren't necessarily the only ones that can benefit from regulations favouring cars built in Europe, hence why so many Chinese firms are rushing to localise production here. The cheekiest signage came on the Xpeng stand, which declared its vehicles were 'in Europe, for Europe'. It feels like a battle of hearts and minds, trying to highlight that, like the Japanese and Korean firms before, Chinese brands are here to stay for the long term.
But their impact is being felt in the short term, as those fast-rising sales figures show. Chinese companies can succeed in Europe. But on the evidence of the Paris show, they're in for a fight. European manufacturers are playing to their strengths, drawing on a heritage their new rivals can't while increasingly matching them on pace and technology. They're not giving up without a fight.
Live updates: how the Paris motor show unfolded
Autocar reporters James Attwood and Charlie Martin were on the ground at the Paris motor show to check out the new reveals, and speak to the people who created them. This is how their show unfolded.
Monday 12 October
16:30 Citroën has gone very big on promotion for the new 2CV, to the point of taking over every advertising spot on the Porte de Versailles metro stop next to the convention centre. Commuters certainly wouldn't miss that there’s a new Tin Snail on the way. Given the state of Parisian traffic, the Metro may still be easier for navigating to the Gare du Nord, mind.
16:15 Volkswagen boss Thomas Schäfer says that he was impressed with the scale of this year’s Paris show. The firm had a full stand this year after only being represented by VW France two years ago and Schäfer said: “All of a sudden it’s interesting again. We’d love to see it gain momentum.” James Attwood
15:45 Cupra wants to be an urban brand, and is promoting the ‘university of the streets’. I’m not a fashion expert by any means, but I’m not sure graduation gowns really qualify as street wear. CEO Markus Haupt tells me it’s to signify that Cupra fans are often ‘street smart’ and get their education there instead of going to university. As someone who went to university and is not street smart, that explains why I had no idea. James Attwood
15:30 Aixam has its Easy chic city car on show, which looks like a shrunken bootleg Fiat 500. Weirdly, this one is powered by a diesel engine. Another observer tells me he’s seen loads on the road in Spain and it sounds like a tractor. James Attwood
15:05 Dacia boss Katrin Adt says there aren't any obvious holes in the firm's current line-up. The Renault Group's affordable brand has just launched the new Spring supermini and is evaluating a production vision of the Hipster that would be built to quadricycle regulations. But with its recent range expansion, Adt is now satisfied: "Never say never, but we are not a brand which is increasing the product line-up. We have a very clear product line-up with quite some volumes on the different models. The big step was now to go into the C-segment. We have now two models in that. We are not a brand which is looking for any needs to fill." James Attwood
14:55 Ever wondered how it would feel to smell like a car? If so, Alfa Romeo has got your back with its own range of aftershaves. I like the leathery Cuorerosso scent but Pista is a bit, err, racy. Charlie Martin
14:25 Interesting messaging on the Xpeng stand. As European car firms push a clear ‘Europe for Europe’ message, new Chinese brands are clearly trying to showcase their links to the region. With lots of Chinese brands in Paris, this feels like the front line on an emerging battleground. James Attwood
14:10 The new Alfa Romeo Cuorerosso concept strikes me as something of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's hugely reassuring to know that dramatic designs and snorting V6s will play a role in Alfa's future and that the brand continues to see the point in producing traditional, low-slung sports saloons. But on the other, it provides a stark reminder of just how old the current Giulia and Stelvio are. Parked in the concept's shadow, to the side of Alfa's glitzy show stand, the decade-old saloon and SUV can't help but look a little anachronistic - tired, even. We still love them for their excellent dynamics and brilliant engines, but it's time to face facts: Alfa's new era needs to start sooner rather than later. Felix Page
13:55 Renault Group design boss Laurens van den Acker isn't worried that some retro cars designs are becoming niche. The firm has previously reinvented the 5, 4 and Twingo, but its Paris show stars include a Renault 8 Gordini concept and a sports car inspired by the Alpine A310. "I thought it might be an issue with R5, because it's the car from the 1970s, but we've been surprised that our sons and daughters love the car and they don't know the history," said van den Acker. "But they appreciate that it's a cool car and a modern car, because it's an EV. Young kids listen to old music now too. My daughter listens to Fleetwood Mac as well as modern stuff. For them it's just all there: you go to Spotify." James Attwood
13:45 You would be forgiven for not rushing to read about the new Omoda 4, flanked as it is on our homepage by a stunning new Alfa Romeo concept, an Alpine supercar and a new Citroën 2CV. But of all the cars making their debut in Paris, I'd put my money on this sharply styled, £25k Nissan Juke rival being the commercial smash hit. It may not be a heart-tugging retro comeback or a mega-powered driver's weapon, but it's well equipped, looks pretty smart and will be agreeably frugal on the move. It just makes sense. Felix Page
13:05 Renault Group boss François Provost says he's convinced the next-generation Alpine A110 will be a great sports car, but he acknowledges there are doubters to convince – including his own sons. "The new APP platform will make a great replacement for the A110, but our first challenge will be to convince our customers it's not crazy stupid to do a sporty electric car. It's not an easy game: my two sons every weekend tell me 'when will you stop trying to do sporty electric cars?'. But we will continue and show them we are capable of doing so." James Attwood
12:25 Meet Xiao An, Changan’s ‘virtual AI employee’. She sits firmly in the uncanny valley, making me feel a little uncomfortable. Charlie Martin
12:00 A price war of a different kind is emerging on the show floor. I’ve just paid €6 for a mini Renault Twingo; these Citroën 2CVs are more than three times that! Charlie Martin
11:40 It wouldn't be a motor show without some excellent car-themed merchandise. Never to be outdone, Renault's showing a full line of surfboards themed for each of its retro EVs. I'll take the Twingo one. James Attwood
11:25 A motor show can be a bit like a Formula 1 race or Glastonbury, in the sense that it's better in many ways to follow along from home. That's not just because it's much easier to refill your water bottle and the sandwiches are free, but also because you can zoom out and take an overview of the entire event, which is so hard to do when you're muscling through the crowds to fawn over the new 2CV. So far, the view from my desk is one of the busiest and most optimistic exhibitions of new metal on European shores in years. The tidal wave of nostalgia-inspired retro comebacks helps, but even some of the more ordinary unveilings – BYD Atto 8, Changan Nevo etc – hold real rational appeal that's hard to overlook. Keep 'em coming. Felix Page
11:10 Leapmotor’s just taken the wraps off the B03, its new Renault 5 rival. But perhaps more significant is the B10 on the right in this picture – the first car it has built in Europe. Charlie Martin
10:45 Anyone for a diesel, body-on-frame 4x4? Because the Chinese will do you one of those too. This is the 212 T01, and it looks mighty. Charlie Martin
10:15 Fiat’s stand is full of the joys of La Dolce Vita, including a stylish newsstand. No Autocar on sale, sadly. James Attwood
09:55 Ladies and gentlemen, President Macron is here. James Attwood
09:45 I was meant to be making a beeline for Changan’s press conference but got… distracted. Like a moth to a flame, I am. Charlie Martin
09:15 The impending arrival of the French president has shut down the Renault stand while this sniffer dog gets an up-close look at the new cars. This is annoying, as I was aiming to sneak backstage for a much-needed coffee. James Attwood
08:50 New Fiat boss Arnaud Belloni has defended the name of the new Grizzly. Asked if buyers might be put off by a car named after an aggressive animal, he said: “It can be cute. Look at a grizzly there, eating salmon, they have little cubs. It’s a fantastic name. We have a Panda and now we have a Grizzly. A Grizzly is bigger than a Panda so it works perfectly. Boom, that’s it. Let’s not intellectualise too much. I don't even know what the names of most Chinese cars are, and by the way, they sell very well.” James Attwood
08:35 Citroën has just taken the covers off the new 2CV, assisted by French actor Omar Sy. It’s jam-packed: this already feels like the show’s main event. CEO Xavier Chardon gave credit to Stellantis chief Antonio Filosa, saying it was he who finally gave a full revival the green light. Charlie Martin
08:15 New Renault design chief Alexandre Malval designed the new Renault E-Space concept in near-record time, having joined the company just eight months ago. Because of that speed, work was done entirely digitally, so the initial images released were renders because the car wasn't finished until the day before the show. "I'd seen it in virtual reality, but the first time I saw the finished car was 2pm on Sunday," Malval told Autocar. "I've never worked like that before. It was a bit crazy – but it looks even better in the real world." James Attwood
07:45 The theme of the day for many of the European attendee brands is nostalgia, but the Chinese are in on it too. This Chery QQ is inspired by one of the nation’s first big-selling home-grown efforts, which looked a bit like a Daewoo Matiz that had shrunk in the wash. This is a much stronger effort. Charlie Martin
07:00 Well, this is my Paris show star sorted, then - and I've only just walked in. Look at this beauty. James Attwood
Sunday 11 October
18:00 The theme of the Volkswagen Group's evening before the show was 'For Europe', highlighting the firm's moves to invest in European design, R&D and manufacturing in creating the new Urban Electric Car Family – the Volkswagen ID Polo, Volkswagen ID Cross, Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval. But it also roused debate about the threats facing the continent's industry – including the arrival of Chinese brands.
French minister delegate for industry Sébastien Martin gave a rousing speech, beating the war drum against China. He said: "It's a shift of our industrial development. This industrial paradigm shift, however, also needs bulwarks that help us to protect ourselves just to reintroduce a level playing field. It would be unfair competition if there are players out there that are in a position to sell their products in Europe – their vehicles in Europe – that are subsidised by state money.
"If all European governments were to finance factories of Stellantis or Renault or Volkswagen, we would be competitive from the get-go. But we're not doing it, and we don't want to do it. This is not something that governments in Europe are going to do because, after all, it's private investments.
"But those who are literally doping their economy by providing subsidies and incentives to them will create unfair competition, and this is why France is supporting the [tariff and import restriction] measures that have been taken by the European Commission. This will also be applicable to hybrid electric vehicles. We are seeing a fundamental change in Europe these days when it comes to imported hybrid vehicles, but you could also take an offensive stance."
He claimed that the tariffs are working, saying that 11% of vehicles sold in France since the introduction of import tariffs are Chinese, down from the previous 40%.
"Tariffs are the way out of this, because electric mobility and the implementation of it is a process that needs to go hand in hand with political support," he said. "Our industrial infrastructures must be protected and at the same time adjusted and adapted without curtailing our innovative clout." Charlie Martin
14:00 Renault's pre-show media event on Sunday evening was held in Large, a new art centre on Île Seguin, the site of a Renault factory from 1930 until 1992. The recently opened Large's first exhibition is a collaboration with Renault and featured art commissioned and inspired by the firm. This piece is intended to show end-of-life car reuse. James Attwood
09:30 The show may not start until tomorrow, but for Autocar's Paris reporters James Attwood and Charlie Martin it has already begun – at St Pancras station, where a substantial chunk of the UK automotive media industry are gathering to catch the Eurostar.
While most of the big unveilings won't start until this evening, some manufacturers have already shown off some of their show stars. Here are some of the early stars.
Paris is home ground for Renault, and the French firm has already signalled its intent with the stunning 8 Gordini concept, which is largely a design study but is so cool we've already started a campaign for the firm to make it.
