Hyperdrive

Mercedes, BMW Urge Germany to Vote Against China EV Tariffs

  • EU tariffs could provoke trade dispute, automaker CEOs warn
  • German government signals it will abstain from levies vote
Oliver ZipsePhotographer: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG are pressing Berlin to vote against imposing significantly higher European Union tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles as German carmakers push to avoid a spat with their most important market.

“The EU should seek a negotiated solution with China instead of imposing tariffs,” Mercedes-Benz Chief Executive Officer Ola Källenius said in a statement Wednesday. A ‘no’ vote from the German government would be a signal of this and would help avoid a trade conflict, he added.