Stellantis will shift output of some Chinese-brand electric vehicles into Europe, in the latest sign of how global carmakers will change their regional strategy following this week’s announcement by Brussels of planned additional tariffs on EVs made in China.
The owner of the Citroën and Fiat brands announced in May that it would sell electric vehicles from Chinese carmaker Leapmotor in its European dealerships from September. However chief executive Carlos Tavares confirmed on Thursday that some cars would be produced in Stellantis plants in Europe.
“A certain number of [Leapmotor] products will have to be assembled in Europe”, said Tavares, speaking at Stellantis’ annual meeting in Detroit. He added that the planned tariffs from Brussels were “correcting a lack of competitiveness” among European carmakers, compared with Chinese rivals.