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Chinese startup Linktour Automotive is set to launch its compact all-electric ‘Alumi’ series in Italy this November, aiming to sell 20,000 units across Europe in 2026 as it seeks to disrupt the entry-level electric mobility market.
The company’s L6e and L7e models measuring just 2.6 meters in length, fall into the EU’s quadricycle category, meaning they are exempt from import tariffs imposed on larger electric vehicles. The two models will be priced “competitively,” with top speeds capped at 45 km/h and 90 km/h, respectively.
“We’ve been focused on the overseas market from the very beginning. We don’t have the baggage of a domestic market,” Linktour Chief Executive William Tang said at the Munich auto show.
By Ruvarashe Gora
The Alumi series introduces innovations such as an all-aluminum frame and battery cells integrated directly into the vehicle’s structure. Linktour is betting these design features, alongside affordability, will help the micro EVs gain traction in a European market increasingly open to Chinese electric cars.
Chinese automakers led by BYD have already carved out significant market share in Europe with sleek, high-tech models at competitive prices. By contrast, Linktour is targeting a niche: small, city-friendly cars designed for short commutes and tighter urban spaces.
The European EV market is becoming a key battleground for Chinese automakers squeezed by slowing demand and discount restrictions at home. For Linktour, expanding abroad represents both an opportunity to grow and a test of whether micro EVs can find mass appeal beyond Asia.
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