Leapmotor unveils the Lafa 5, on the press and media day of the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Volkswagen's member of the Group Board of Management and CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, Thomas Schaefer presents the brand's new cars, on the press and media day of the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Leapmotor presents the Lafa 5, on the press and media day of the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
People attend the presentation of BMW iX3 on the press and media day of the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth
Togg T10X is displayed during the press and media day of the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany, September 8, 2025. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth

(Reuters) - Prominent global automakers showcased their latest models at the Munich car show, including new EVs and lower-cost vehicles, as Europe's auto sector faces crises ranging from tariff hikes to rising costs and rivalry with Chinese firms on their home turf.

Here are the announcements by some of the companies:

BMW

BMW said its iX3, the first model in its all-electric Neue Klasse series which was launched earlier in September, will be sold in Europe from March 2026 at a price of 68,900 euros ($80,700).

It is monitoring its highly competitive China market in terms of pricing ahead of launching the iX3 there next year.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the all-electric GLC in a global launch. The car, based on the group's most successful combustion-engine model, would help the group recover lost ground in the Chinese market, CEO Ola Kaellenius said.

VOLKSWAGEN

Europe's largest automaker focused on more affordable EVs, showcasing the ID.Polo, an entry-level hatchback expected to be priced at below 25,000 euros, and the compact electric SUV, the ID.CROSS, expected to be priced at 28,000-30,000 euros. Both will be launched in Europe in 2026.

STELLANTIS

Franco-Italian carmaker Stellantis will no longer exclusively produce EVs as part of its target through 2030, Jean-Philippe Imparato, head of enlarged Europe and European brands, said.

Imparato said EU carbon emissions targets for 2035 were no longer achievable for any carmaker, supporting Stellantis' decision not to restrict production just to EVs.

POLESTAR

Swedish automaker Polestar unveiled its grand tourer (GT) sports car, the Polestar 5, at the Munich auto show on Monday, but said it won't sell the model initially in the United States and China.

BYD

China's No. 1 automaker BYD said it would make its EVs - that are meant for sale in Europe - locally within three years, helping it avoid EU tariffs, while plug-in hybrids should dominate its European sales in the short term, Stella Li, BYD's No. 2 executive, told Reuters on Monday.

"We are training ourselves to be more European in production," she said.

LEAPMOTOR

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor unveiled the B05, a new hatchback described by CEO Zhu Jiangming as a sporty coupe, as competition heats up for affordable electric models.

The B05 will be delivered in Europe from the second quarter of 2026 after its launch in China later this year, and will come in six colours. Pricing was not disclosed.

Leapmotor's global sales should hit 1 million units in 2026 and 4 million annually within a decade, with 60% of sales coming from outside China, CEO Zhu told Reuters.

Zhu said that Leapmotor will more than double its vehicle lineup to 15 models by 2027 and that will include launching a plug-in hybrid.

TOGG

The Turkish EV startup unveiled a new sedan as it launched sales in Europe starting with Germany. Togg announced the European launch of its T10X electric SUV, and unveiled the T10F, an electric five-door sedan.

Orders for both vehicles will start in Germany at the end of September and pricing details were not disclosed.

GAC

China's Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) launched its Aion V electric SUV and said it would be sold in Poland, Portugal and Finland from this month, with more European markets to follow. The SUV will start at just under 36,000 euros.

Next year, GAC will start selling the Aion UT, an electric crossover.

(Compiled by Bernadette Baum and Susan Fenton)