2024-01-14 12:48:00
European Commission investigators are to inspect Chinese automakers in the coming weeks as part of an investigation into whether they will impose punitive tariffs to protect European electric vehicle makers, three people involved in the investigation said. by News.ro.
Masini WORLDFoto: Liang Xu / Xinhua News / Profimedia
The inspectors will visit BYD, Geely and SAIC, two sources said, with one of them specifying that the investigators will not visit non-Chinese brands made in China, such as Tesla, Renault and BMW.
The investigation, launched in October and scheduled to last 13 months, aims to determine whether cheaper electric vehicles made in China are unfairly benefiting from state subsidies.
Called protectionist by China, the investigation escalated tensions between Beijing and the EU.
The European Commission has confirmed that it will carry out the visits.
“The Commission has selected a representative sample of Chinese and EU producers who have already responded to the questionnaire,” said Olof Gill, spokesperson for the European Trade Commission.
“The commission will carry out verification visits to their premises in January-February 2024,” he said.
China’s Ministry of Commerce, BYD and SAIC did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Archyde.com writes. Geely declined to comment, but cited the October statement that the company complied with all laws and supported fair competition in the global market.
Verification visits
One source said investigators had arrived in China, while another source said visits were scheduled for this month and February.
The visits are for verification work – on-the-spot inspections that check the responses car manufacturers have given to questionnaires – a source said.
European Commission documents for the investigation say it is “in the initiation stage”, with verification visits scheduled until April 11.
The sources asked not to be named because details of the visit are confidential.
Last week, China opened an anti-dumping investigation into cognac imported from the European Union, a move that appeared to target France, which supports the investigation into electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles from China, cheaper than models made in the EU
Popular Chinese models exported to Europe include SAIC’s MG and Geely’s Volvo.
The share of Chinese-made vehicles in the European Union electric vehicle market has increased to 8% and might reach 15% in 2025, with these electric vehicles typically selling for 20% cheaper than EU-made models.
In October, China’s Great Wall Motor said it was the first carmaker to send responses to the EU’s subsidy probe.
Relations between China and the EU have been strained by factors such as Beijing’s closer ties with Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The EU is trying to reduce its dependence on the world’s second largest economy, especially for the materials and products needed for its ecological transition.
At the same time, Chinese electric vehicle makers, from market leader BYD to smaller rivals Xpeng and Nio, are stepping up efforts to expand overseas as domestic competition intensifies and domestic growth slows.
Many manufacturers have made sales to Europe a priority. China is estimated to have overtaken Japan as the world’s biggest auto exporter last year, shipping 5.26 million vehicles valued at regarding $102 billion, a Chinese auto association said this week.
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