More and more Asian brands want to open factories in Europe, even if France does not seem to be popular with these manufacturers. But who are those who want to set up on the Old Continent?
Europe does not want electric cars made in China? No matter, Chinese manufacturers intend to set up in Europe in order to produce their vehicles intended for our market.
At the same time, they will also be able to circumvent the increase in customs duties on electric cars manufactured in China and exported to Europe. And, as we will see, several manufacturers have ambitions in Europe, and there are more of them than you might think.
BYD, MG and Geely are in the starting blocks
By the end of 2023, BYD announced the construction of a factory in Hungary (the first in Europe) and would like to open a second one later. It is not yet known where the second factory could be located, but several persistent rumors speak of an interest in Italy.
Chery has already taken for granted the opening of its first European production site in Spain, while SAIC continues its search for a European assembly plant for its MG brand. MG Motor has also recently opened its second European spare parts center in France.
Great Wall Motor was already considering opening a factory in Germany, Hungary or the Czech Republic last year, but for the moment, there is nothing really official. Meanwhile, Geely also plans to open a factory in Europe, certainly to assemble the Smart and Volvo models thereand thus circumvent customs duties.
Spain and Hungary voted for
While France may not seem like the ideal host country for Chinese electric car factories, particularly due to high labor costs and a certain aversion of the French government towards Chinese cars, Spain and Hungary seem more inclined to welcome Asian brands.
China’s Chery has signed a joint venture agreement with Spain’s EV Motors to produce cars at its first plant in Europe. The models will be produced at the end of the year at the former Nissan plant near Barcelona.
This agreement is part of the strategy launched in 2020 by Spain, the second largest car producer in Europe after Germany, to attract companies that produce electric vehicles and batteries to its territory.
Chery will first start producing the Omoda at its Spanish plantwhile majority shareholder EV Motors will begin producing its own vehicles in the fourth quarter. The goal by 2029 is to assemble 150,000 vehicles each year.
Further east, BYDs will soon be manufactured in Szeged, Hungary, in a new factory that should be operational within three years. This will be BYD’s second factory in the country after the one in Komarom, opened in 2016 and dedicated to the production of electric heavy-duty trucks. The Chinese manufacturer plans to manufacture around 200,000 electric and hybrid cars in the long term.
Among the more vague projects, Dongfeng is said to be very interested in setting up in Italy, while Geely is making eyes at Poland with a view to building its first European factory.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
