Alarm in the EU: European Commissioner Calls for Protection of the Auto Industry from the Chinese Assault!

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Following the resounding warning from the CEO of the American giant Ford about the risk that Chinese carmakers threaten the very existence of Western companies, a new alarm signal is now coming from the heart of the European Union. Stéphane Séjourné, the European Commissioner for Industry, is sounding a firm alarm: "The EU must protect its car industry from Chinese rivals", underlining the need for a strategic approach and unexpected flexibility.

The Chinese Offensive on the European Market

Chinese carmakers have launched a swift and effective offensive in the European market, gaining market share at an accelerated pace. Figures show an exponential growth in sales of Chinese vehicles, especially in the electric and hybrid car segment. This expansion, often supported by massive government subsidies in China, is putting immense pressure on European brands, which are finding themselves forced to take urgent measures to counter this onslaught.

According to Séjourné, ignoring this situation would have disastrous consequences. He warned that if nothing is done, “in ten years, the number of cars produced and sold in Europe will fall from 13 million to nine million.” Such a decline would severely affect a sector that employs millions of Europeans and is a cornerstone of the EU economy.

The Solutions Proposed by the European Commissioner

Former French Foreign Minister and current European Commissioner for Industry, Stéphane Séjourné, advocates for a radical paradigm shift at EU level:

1. Strategic Rethinking: "We need to be less naive and return to the standards of all the major world economies. We are the only continent that does not have strategic thinking in terms of industrial policy," he stressed.
2. Flexibility on the 2035 Deadline: A controversial proposal, but considered essential by Séjourné, is to show flexibility on the ban on the sale of cars with internal combustion engines until 2035. This relaxation could give European manufacturers the time they need to adapt to the electric transition and develop competitive models that can compete with Chinese supply. Some officials, including Séjourné at one point, even suggested adopting the principle of technological neutrality, allowing, for example, biofuels as a transitional solution.
3. Countering Chinese Assembly in the EU: Another major concern concerns the factories that Chinese manufacturers already have in Europe. Séjourné said it was “unacceptable” for manufacturers to assemble Chinese cars in Europe using Chinese components and personnel, citing the situation in Spain and Hungary as examples. He suggested the need to introduce conditionality for foreign investment to ensure a real benefit for the European economy.
4. Reducing Red Tape and Diversifying Markets: The Commissioner also mentioned the need to simplify bureaucracy and encourage European producers to focus on new export markets.
5. Supply Chain Security: To reduce dependence on China, particularly for rare earths essential for EV technology, Séjourné argues that the EU needs to identify and develop new suppliers from countries such as Brazil, Canada or African states.

A Battle for Survival, Not Just for the Market

The European Commissioner for Industry's position underlines that the Chinese challenge is not just a simple trade dispute, but a battle for Europe's industrial survival. While the EU has promoted an ambitious climate neutrality agenda, the car market has become a battleground where China, with its affordable and technologically advanced electric vehicles, has managed to gain a major advantage.

The call for flexibility on the 2035 ban on combustion engines reflects a recognition that a too-rapid transition, without adequate protection of the internal market, could favour foreign rivals at the expense of Europe’s car giants. The ball is now in the court of the European Commission and the member states, who must decide quickly whether to adopt a more defensive and strategic industrial policy, as Séjourné suggests, to protect the “crown jewel” of the European economy.