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EU tariffs on Chinese EVs could backfire, hobble Green Offer, BMW CEO states

BMW's CEO on Wednesday alerted versus imposing EU import responsibilities on electric cars from Chinese automakers, saying it could overthrow the bloc's Green Offer industrial strategy and harm German automakers which import vehicles made in China.

The European Commission, which manages trade policy in the 27-nation European Union, introduced an examination in October into whether fully-electric cars and trucks manufactured in China were getting distortive aids and necessitated extra tariffs.

You might extremely rapidly shoot yourself in the foot, CEO Oliver Zipse informed press reporters after the German premium automaker reported quarterly results.

BMW imports Chinese-made Mini EVs and the iX3 into Europe.

Like its German rivals Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, BMW is heavily dependent on profits from its Chinese company.

China is BMW's second-largest market after Europe, accounting for almost 32% of sales in the first quarter.

We don't think that our market needs security, Zipse told analysts on Wednesday, adding that operating on a global basis provides significant automakers an industrial advantage. You can easily threaten that advantage by introducing import tariffs.

In March, the Commission started customizeds registration of Chinese EV imports, indicating they could be struck by tariffs from If the trade examination concludes they are, that point getting unfair aids.

The probe is because of conclude by November, but the EU could enforce provisionary responsibilities in July. Brussels must release a. summary of proposed provisionary duties by June 5 and these. duties would be imposed by July 4.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in. Berlin on Wednesday that Europe needed to take actions to prevent. China from flooding the bloc's market with subsidised electrical. vehicles.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Von der Leyen prompted. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday to ensure. more balanced trade with Europe.

Zipse told analysts that BMW and other automakers have. bilateral dependences not just on the final product, however on. the part side and raw material side.

Imposing tasks might backfire as new EU CO2 emission. standards that will need more EVs - that are reliant on. Chinese battery materials - begin next year.

There will be no single automobile in the EU without parts. from China, Zipse said.

He stated that imposing tariffs would undo the EU's industrial. strategy to ensure the bloc is a frontrunner in cutting carbon. emissions and establishing the innovation required to do so.

There is no Green Handle Europe without resources from. China, Zipse said.

(source: Reuters)