Mercedes and Stellantis Don’t See Eye to Eye on Chinese Cars
CEOs Ola Källenius and Carlos Tavares offer very different takes on whether Europe should welcome China’s EV imports with open arms.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius, center, and Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, right, walk and talk with TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne ahead of the inauguration of the Automotive Cells Company battery factory in Douvrin, France.
Photographer: Nathan Laine/BloombergAs Chinese carmakers including BYD Co. and Nio Inc. look to expand in Europe, the region’s incumbents are divided over how Brussels ought to respond.
Carlos Tavares, who heads Fiat and Peugeot maker Stellantis NV, warned Tuesday that competition will be fierce given the head start China has jumped out to in building batteries and affordable electric vehicles. During the inauguration of a battery factory in northern France, he reiterated his view that Europe’s political leaders ought to come to the aid of homegrown manufacturers that are struggling to keep pace.