Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesChinese electric vehicles pose "a real threat" to the European car industry, according to Christian Kames, managing director at financial advisory firm Lazard. Kames spoke from the IAA Mobility Conference in Munich, where the number of Chinese companies has soared since the last event. watch nowThe increase in Chinese companies in attendance shows that these firms "really have the European market … as the next market they want to conquer," Kames said. European companies are 'ready to engage'European auto manufacturers are well aware of the competition brought about by Chinese companies, Christian Kames told CNBC. "[European carmakers] get it now, that the Chinese [automakers] are a real threat.

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Persons: Christian Kames, Lazard, Kames, Warren Buffet, carmaker BYD, Xpeng, Brian Gu, Luca De Meo, Monday, De Meo, China's, Chris Reitermann, CNBC's Evelyn Cheng, Reitermann Organizations: Munich, Bloomberg, Getty, IAA, IAA Mobility, CNBC, UBS, Renault, Ogilvy Asia Pacific Locations: Munich, Germany, Asia, Europe, Hangzhou, China, Swiss, European, Greater China