Forthing Bets on Family-Friendly EVs and PHEVs to Win Over Europe

Chinese automaker Forthing, part of the Dongfeng group, is returning to a major European auto show for the third time, using the stage to introduce a trio of vehicles headed for the continent. After first appearing at the Paris Motor Show in 2024 and later stopping by the IAA in Munich, the brand is now positioning itself around one clear selling point: vehicles built with families in mind.

Leading the lineup is the TK5, a mid-size SUV that comes in both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid form. The electric variant carries a 75 kWh battery and, thanks to an 800-volt architecture, can go from 20 to 80 per cent charge in under 18 minutes. Forthing lists a DC charging figure of 160 kW, which works out to roughly 150 kW on average, suggesting the company is quoting a sustained rate rather than a peak number. The PHEV version gets a 39 kWh battery and is said to support fast charging, though the manufacturer has not published charging times for it. Inside, the TK5 aims upmarket, with power-adjustable second-row seats and front seats that add heating, ventilation and massage functions.

Sitting above it is the larger TK7, offered exclusively as a plug-in hybrid. It stretches roughly 29 centimetres longer than the TK5 and can seat up to three more occupants. The show car featured a seven-seat layout in an unusual 2-2-3 arrangement: individual seats in both the first and second rows, with a three-place bench at the rear. The design gives four passengers generous room, treats the back row as child-friendly space, and lets people reach the third row by walking between the two middle seats rather than folding and clambering.

The V9 takes Forthing into camper territory. This plug-in hybrid can be configured with four or seven seats, with the four-seat version set up as a proper camper complete with sink, shower curtain, refrigerator and extra storage built into the rear side windows. Both configurations share a roof tent, an awning and 6 kW vehicle-to-load capability, while the four-seater adds a 220-volt outlet strip rated at 2.2 kW. Combining the roof tent with flat-folding seats creates a ‘double-decker’ sleeping setup.

Forthing has been selling in Europe since 2022 and had moved more than 10,000 vehicles on the continent by 2025, with Germany and Italy as established markets and France, Norway and Denmark next in line. In leaning into family-oriented models, the company is targeting a segment it believes rivals are steadily abandoning. European launches for the TK5 and TK7 are expected within the coming months, with pricing still unannounced.