EU launches investigation into Chinese electric vehicle makers

The European Commission has launched a procedure to protect the EU market from unfair competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. As stated in statement EC, the regulator has collected enough information to claim that the import of electric vehicles from China is carried out through hidden subsidies received by Chinese automakers from the Chinese government. Thanks to these subsidies, the regulator continues, Chinese companies are able to sell their electric vehicles at significantly lower prices than their European competitors, which undermines the “already vulnerable” European automobile industry.

In accordance with the established procedure, the European Commission will now conduct a larger investigation, and representatives of the Chinese auto industry and the Chinese government have been invited to actively participate in the investigation.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has already expressed its “extreme dissatisfaction” with the actions of the European Commission, noting that the European regulator did not provide verification materials in the proper volume and gave the Chinese side a “very short” period of time to participate in consultations.

European Commission announced on the opening of an investigation into Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers on September 13. Then the Chinese authorities criticized this decision, calling the actions of the European regulator protectionism.

Kirill Sarkhanyants