“Naive and dogmatic” laws being enforced in the West designed to get drivers to switch to electric vehicles are handing China a competitive advantage and jeopardising car manufacturing in Europe, according to Carlos Tavares, chief executive of Citroën-to-Vauxhall car giant Stellantis.
Calling for European import tariffs, he said that Chinese carmakers faced no restrictions in selling to Europe, yet western cars are subject to tariffs and other hurdles in China.
He said: “The EU is wide open and it is not acceptable. Don’t support Chinese companies in Europe with easier rules than we’re getting there. Do you want to put your mobility in the hands of the Chinese state?”
His warning came soon after BMW decided to end production of the electric Mini in the