BYD adviser Stella Li said Chinese manufacturers are examining potential production sites across Europe, a move that could reshape the continent’s fast-growing electric-car industry.
• Building vehicles inside the European Union could help Chinese brands avoid future trade barriers and qualify for incentives tied to regional production.
• The search reflects mounting pressure from Brussels and national governments to ensure that more of the value chain, including manufacturing and components, remains in Europe.
• Chinese automakers have expanded rapidly in Europe, competing on price and technology while facing political scrutiny over subsidies and market access.
• Establishing local factories would also reduce shipping costs and delivery times, making it easier for companies to serve European customers.
• Analysts say investment decisions will depend on labor costs, energy prices, government incentives and the final design of the EU’s local-content requirements.
The push comes as European automakers seek to defend their market share while governments balance industrial policy with the need to accelerate electric-vehicle adoption.