One of the nights, according to the author's article, a young man approached us with a question on his face.
We were during a road test for a new car, and that guy wondered what kind of car it was.
Before we could even answer, he pointed out that his father had just ordered one.
When he told us the name of the model, we were filled with wonder.
He pointed out that his father ordered a Genesis GV, while we were driving a DS4 at the time.
Needless to say, there is no connection between the two, they don't even come from the same continent.
That's why a decision arose in our hearts: to write this guide, and to make order for the people living in Zion.
So which electric cars are coming here, what lies beneath their design, and what does this say about the state of the automakers?
The three big ones
We'll start this overview from the world's three largest automakers, as of the first half of 2022. Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai didn't respond in the same way or at the same pace to the electric revolution, but eventually they all did.
The one who has the most significant arsenal of electric vehicles today is Volkswagen, perhaps the first to respond on a large scale to the electric demand.
As such, it is also starting to beat Tesla in the European market.
The company's offering is mainly based on one electric platform (it has more) that serves many models.
The brands that enjoy here are all those related to Volkswagen (Audi, Skoda, Seat, Cupra, etc.), and for each of them you can find one bias of this platform (Skoda Aniac, Audi Q4 e-tron, and more).
Advanced platform.
BYD's Eto 3,
The last to respond, by the way, was Toyota, and as evidence - its electric cars are still not moving on Israel's roads (but they will start soon).
At Toyota, the pioneer of hybrids, they didn't really rush to introduce electric models, and maybe they didn't believe so much in the electric car as we know it today.
Despite all of this, it too succumbed to fashion and has long since presented a program that includes dozens of all-electric models for the coming years.
Until the electric fleet of Toyota and Lexus is fully revealed, it is currently marketing the bZ4X, an electric recreational vehicle that, as mentioned, should start its journey with us as well.
We will also meet this platform in Israel as the Subaru Soltra - Subaru's new electric recreational vehicle, which is a twin brother to the bZ4X.
It can be assumed that other manufacturers with whom Toyota has a relationship (such as Suzuki) will also benefit from the fruits of the company's electric developments.
And, of course, Hyundai threw all the gold on the (successful, it should be noted) electric platform on which the Ionique 5 sits, which is already circulating with us.
The same platform will also be based on the EV6, Kia's version of the electric platform introduced with the Ioniq 5. Another deviation of this mechanical base can also be found in Hyundai's luxury brand, Genesis, in the GV60, the first examples of which are hitting the road these days .
The same electric platform will also be used by Hyundai's new sedan, Ioniq 6, which will probably arrive in Israel in early 2023.
On the way to union
If you haven't heard of Stellentis Corporation, this is a great opportunity to get to know it.
This corporation was created last year when Peugeot-Citroen and Fiat-Chrysler merged.
Said union created a multi-brand monster, 13 to be exact.
The list includes (take a breath): Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Peugeot, Citroen, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Ram - and that's it.
Hyundai's main electric platform powers the Ioniq 5, photo: manufacturer
In fact, Stellentis is the fifth largest car manufacturer in the world today, although the road to harmonious functioning is still long.
Currently, you can find electric vehicles that use parallel technology and platforms on both sides of this corporate bread.
For example, at Peugeot, Citroen and Opel you can find electric cars that use the same platform.
Other brands within the group also started the process of electrification - even before the merger.
In the near future, Stelantis will offer several electric platforms that should cater to each of these brands - from a mini-urban to an oversized van.
And if we have already mentioned large vans, we should talk a little about what is happening in America.
Tesla does not need to be introduced, and if we look at it from a technological point of view, we will find that everything it produces today is based on the same platform and the same technology.
This is perhaps the time to point out that most Tesla 3 cars that move on Israeli roads are strictly Chinese.
The fragrance may come from the USA, but their production takes place in China.
In terms of size and production volumes, it is more interesting to look at General Motors, the fourth largest manufacturer in the world.
As of these days, electric cars from Chevrolet and its siblings are still not marketed in our country, perhaps because the Americans are more interested in their vans, of which millions are sold every year in the new continent.
In Chevy specifically, they are waiting for the electric Silverado of 2023 - it will compete with Ford's electric van.
Another merger of companies, on a significantly smaller scale, took place a few years ago between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
Currently there is no electric representative for these three companies in Israel.
They certainly use common technologies, but as mentioned without electrical representation.
This is perhaps the time to mention that Nissan was here with an all-electric car before everyone else, but Nissan Leaf was ahead of its time and the electric fashion and was not very successful here.
The Chinese are not left behind
When it comes to the production of electric vehicles, the Chinese are in an excellent position.
In fact, they are leaders in everything related to the production of electric vehicles.
Last year, more than 3 million electric vehicles were sold there, a figure that is expected to double in 2022.
gets on the road
Genesis GV60, photo: manufacturer
Those who seek to put order in everything related to electric vehicle manufacturers in China will find themselves in a slight problem: there are, as of these days, no less than 450 electric vehicle manufacturers in China.
A long evening of friendships, daughter friendships and collaborations in complicated ties that are difficult to untie.
In the local market, fortunately for us, the picture is simpler, and among the companies represented here there are currently none that share platforms or technology directly.
To put some order in the Chinese mess, you can stick to the production numbers of these companies.
The largest electric car manufacturer in the world is BYD, which these days begins its steps in Israel with three models.
Among these, the smaller and cheaper one (Eto 3) is equipped with the most advanced platform and the one dedicated to an electric vehicle.
After it you can find SAIC, which is known in Israel thanks to one of its brands - MG.
Currently MG's electric offering is centered on the compact electric recreational vehicle.
This model is actually the Chinese ground-breaker in Israel - the first to be sold here with a completely electric model - and was a local success.
Kia's version of the electric platform.
EV6, photo: manufacturer
Another one of the largest car manufacturers in China is FAW, whose Hongchi brand is coming to Israel.
After her, you can find Cheri, which will arrive in Israel this year, and GAC, which came here for a moment and will return with a probably more impressive model line.
Of course, you can also find Geely here, which shook the local electric market with a very successful Israeli launch of the Geometric C, an electric recreational vehicle that was not designed as such from the beginning but offered a fairly attractive price to the local audience.
We can also mention Skywell, whose relatively large recreational vehicle ET5 is a success here, and Aiways, a completely new Chinese manufacturer that was among the first to reach our market.
What about prestige?
In the luxury brands, you can concentrate mainly on the three German companies - Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
The way they choose to attack each motor challenge is always intriguing.
The biggest of them all here is absolutely Mercedes.
Although it was not the first to enter the electric fashion, as of today it certainly offers the largest and most impressive range of models.
It's worth knowing that the smaller electric cars, EQA and EQB, are based on a platform first introduced with gasoline engines for the A-Class.
The other models, such as EQC or EQE, sit on a dedicated electric platform.
The range-topping EQS is easily the best futuristic electric car around.
Audi entered the electric field relatively quickly with the Audi e-tron.
It is a large recreational vehicle, loaded with technology and capability, which was considered groundbreaking at the time of its introduction.
After this, Audi introduced the e-tron GT - a 4-door car with a coupe-like silhouette.
The excellent sensations produced by this car depend, in part, on an electric platform that it shares with the Porsche Tayken.
BMW saw the future perhaps even before these two, when it introduced the electric i3.
It was an odd little car to look at, but wonderful to drive.
One that took the idea of sustainability to the extreme in an original and very different way.
In contrast to it, you can find the i4 and iX3 in BMW's local electric offer today, which offer pure electric drive on an architecture known from the company's other models - those with the internal combustion engine.
BMW's dedicated electric car that can be found in Israel is the iX, actually BMW's flagship electric car, one that is a purposeful display of the company's capabilities today.
A significant arsenal.
ID3, photo: manufacturer
In the same breath, we can mention a new premium brand that is taking its first steps in Israel these very days: the Polestar name was previously used for Volvo's performance models, and now it has left the walls of the Swedish company and has become an independent brand.
The owner of this company is Geely (the Chinese company mentioned above) which also owns Volvo, Lotus, Smart and other well-known brands.
Polestar 2, which shares a platform with Volvo's electric XC40 and C40, is currently being marketed in Israel.
Limited base, many models
The Israeli market therefore reflects the global market - with companies merging, extensive platform sharing and also a fairly obvious Chinese electric invasion.
If you get the impression that car manufacturers are trying to develop a limited number of platforms and must build a maximum of model families - you are absolutely right.
This is not a new trend, but the last few years have strengthened it even more.
With the need to develop a mechanical and electrical base, sometimes with huge investments, manufacturers have no choice but to take full advantage of these developments.
If in the past the engineer was the most important person in the car company, today it is the designer.
With mechanical bases becoming more and more similar, with uniformity of electric motors and control units, the one who decides the design of the product is the king.
It is not for nothing that we are witnessing a new trend in the automotive industry: chief designers who are appointed to the general managers of such and such manufacturers.
Today will not be far away, and all that will differentiate one car from another is the design.
In the meantime, we hope that this article will help you to know better what is hidden under the design of the car in front of you.
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