The European Union will decide by October 30 whether to increase tariffs on electric cars entering the bloc from China. The new tariffs, although they will be significantly lower than the 100% imposed by the US and Canada, still come at a time when Chinese automakers are eager to enter the European market, writes The New York Times.
While some giants already have plants in Europe, others aim to build new production units on the continent.
Chinese electric car maker Leapmotor expects to begin assembling its urban electric model in Poland by the end of this year as it seeks to expand into Europe, Bloomberg writes.
The Chinese company’s joint venture with multinational Stellantis NV, called Leapmotor International, began delivering electric cars to Europe this month. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares wanted the joint venture to first market cars assembled in China before deciding to start full-scale production at a facility in Poland. “We are in a preparation phase,” said Leapmotor International CEO Tianshu Xin. “The official production of the T03 model will start in the fourth quarter”, he said, referring to the urban electric car.
The choice of Poland was based on “costs, quality and capacity”, according to him. No targets related to the Polish unit were provided.
Chinese carmaker Geely is also looking at locations for a factory in Europe, as it is currently negotiating with the Polish government about an electric car production unit in that country, Reuters reports.
The brand, which currently only sells a hybrid model in Europe, will launch a made-in-China electric car in Italy next month, but wants to build its next electric car in Europe.
In Hungary, the Chinese car giant BYD could start production at the Szeged plant in the second part of 2025.
And Bulgaria hosted a Chinese car giant. In 2012, Great Wall Motors launched production operations in this country, but almost five years later, Litex Motors, the Bulgarian company that was supposed to assemble cars of this brand locally, went bankrupt.
Leapmotor and Geely thus join a growing number of Chinese automakers that have plans to build factories in Europe as the European Commission plans tougher trade barriers for importing EVs from across borders.
Chery announced in April that it will start producing electric cars in Barcelona, Spain, in partnership with Ebro EV Motors.
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