That decision came after the Chinese government privately told automakers to pause big investments in European countries that backed extra European Union tariffs on Chinese-made EVs …
Seems to be another incident illustrating that China is not a reliable partner for Europe …
Needs context:
Stellantis (STLAM.MI) has stopped making its Chinese partner Leapmotor’s (9863.HK) T03 small electric car in Poland and is assessing alternative production options, the Franco-Italian automaker said on Tuesday.
EDIT: removed opens new tab
The T03 doesn’t comply with 2024 safey regulations which apply to all vehicles (not just new models) in July.
This is not new.
Stellantis e-car Leapmotor B10 will not be built in Poland (November 2024)
Stellantis could build the electric car in Eisenach or in Slovakia instead of Poland because China is planning countermeasures to the EU’s punitive tariffs […]
The new plans were made after the Chinese Ministry of Commerce advised manufacturers on October 10 against producing in European countries that have voted in favor of introducing additional tariffs on electric cars produced in China. Poland is among them. Five EU member states, including Germany and Slovakia, had rejected the tariffs, while twelve other EU states abstained. Chinese companies have to obtain Beijing’s approval for their direct investments abroad anyway.
It is so weird that Poland, who does not have own motor company, voted to protect European auto makers, and Germany that IS the European car industry voted against. Make it make sense.
We do have a successful bus manufacturer (Solaris). Does this count? We also have lots of car parts industry here.
Yes, it’s even weird that any country voted against protecting the bloc’s economy. Maybe Volkswagen and other German car makers wanted to have access to the Chinese market, although they will likely never be successful there anyway (it’s clear, at least, that no foreign company has ever had meaningful long-term success in Chinese markets, in neither industry). But that’s my guess, maybe I am wrong.
Volkswagen was the top selling car brand in China for at least 15 years.
https://electrek.co/2024/01/23/byd-overtakes-vws-15-year-run-as-top-seller-in-china/
Yes, because China had an underdeveloped industry. They needed the technology. In the long term there will be no Western company with a meaningful market share in China.As a foreigner you can’t even found a company in China without a Chinese partner who then owns the majority stake (the only exception being Tesla in this regard).
