China begins to shine in Germany: the XPENG X9 wins Best Premium Car in Germany

Germany, one of the world’s markets with the strongest automotive tradition, is changing slowly but steadily: Asian brands are no longer limited to competing on price in Europe; they are beginning to win recognition in categories where German manufacturers have held a dominant position for decades.

The latest example comes from XPENG and its X9, while Hyundai has done the same with the IONIQ 6 N. These are two very different models, but they share one thing: they have managed to stand out in the German market within the German Car of the Year 2027 awards.

The case of the XPENG X9 is particularly noteworthy. This large electric minivan from the Chinese brand was chosen as the German Luxury Car of the Year 2027, succeeding in a category where German brands have traditionally held a dominant position.

This is not a recognition based solely on a presentation or public voting. The jury consists of 47 specialized journalists, 25 of them German and 22 international, who tested 109 current and future models from over 25 brands. A total of around 750 driving tests were conducted before the winners in various categories were selected.

In addition, the result carries significant symbolic weight: it is the first time an MPV has won the Luxury category in these awards. According to the organizers, the XPENG X9 outperformed models from 12 other brands thanks to a combination of technology, design, and interior layout.

And it’s no small detail that this is happening precisely in Germany. The X9 represents a generation of Chinese manufacturers that no longer aim to enter Europe solely with budget models. XPENG is trying to compete in terms of technology, comfort, driver assistance systems, and perceived quality, directly occupying spaces where it was once very difficult to find alternatives from China.

The move also aligns with what happened to Hyundai and the IONIQ 6 N, which won the Performance category of the same German Car of the Year 2027 awards, surpassing entries from Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Lucid, and Volvo. The Korean sports electric sedan was recognized for its performance, handling, and driver-oriented design.

The next step will be to determine the overall winner of German Car of the Year 2027, which will be chosen from these five models: Volkswagen ID. Polo, KIA PV5, electric Mercedes-Benz GLC, XPENG X9, and Hyundai IONIQ 6 N.

But regardless of the final outcome, the awards already send a clear message: competition coming from Asia is entering areas where it once seemed almost impossible to challenge the dominance of German manufacturers.

And that is probably one of the most significant changes the European automotive industry is experiencing. We’re no longer just talking about Chinese cars that can offer more features for less money. Some of them are now getting German industry experts to rank them among the top options in their respective categories.