Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) issued a statement on Wednesday reiterating the critical role of free and fair trade in fostering a globally competitive European automotive industry.
In a reaction to the tariffs on China made EVs announced earlier today, ACEA reiterated that healthy competition is a key driver of innovation and consumer choice.
The association, which represents the 15 major Europe-based OEMs including BMW Group, Ford Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group, emphasized that while ensuring a level playing field for all competitors is crucial, it is only one aspect of enhancing global competitiveness.
“What the European automotive sector needs above all else to be globally competitive is a robust industrial strategy for electromobility,” said Sigrid de Vries, Director of ACEA.
The European Union will impose additional tariffs of up to 38.1 percent on electric vehicles imported from China starting from July. In a statement, the EU said it will hike tariffs to 38.10 percent on automakers who did not cooperate with the investigation that started last year and 21 percent on the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers which have not been “sampled”.
The European Commission is currently investigating potential anti-subsidy measures, a process expected to continue for several months.
The investigation’s outcome will determine whether the Commission will propose definitive anti-subsidy measures. If proposed, member states will vote on the implementation of these measures.
As the investigation proceeds, the automotive industry awaits the Commission’s decisions, which could significantly impact the sector’s competitive landscape and regulatory environment.
According to the strategy announced today, BYD will be applied a tariff of 17.4 percent while Geely and SAIC group see the tariff increasing to 20 and 38.1 percent, respectively. The manufacturers were already notified by the European Union.
Last month, the US administration announced tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum, 50 percent on semiconductors, 100 percent on electric vehicles, and 50 percent on solar panels.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
