Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD has expressed concerns that planned EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs could lead to higher prices and discourage potential buyers.
Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD, voiced these concerns at the Paris auto show on Monday, saying the tariffs are not fair and could particularly affect less affluent customers.
Li stressed the importance of positive education about EVs in Europe, where trust is currently low. She noted that consumers would ultimately bear the cost of the tariffs, which could dampen their purchasing decisions.
Li expressed disagreement with the calculations behind the proposed rates for BYD’s vehicles, but mentioned that the company had not formally challenged them.
BYD has not yet defined a strategy to address additional costs that could result from the tariffs. Li criticized politicians’ involvement in imposing tariffs, suggesting it adds unnecessary costs to auto manufacturing and creates confusion within the industry.
Regarding BYD’s operations in Europe, Li revealed that the company plans to produce almost all of its EVs in Hungary and intends to source as much as possible from European suppliers for its supply chain. Although the battery packs will be assembled in Europe, the cells will still be imported from China. She also mentioned a price of around €30,000 for the cheapest BYD vehicle available in Germany and across Europe.
Li admitted that BYD has faced difficulties in Germany due to inadequate infrastructure, but assured that the company is actively working to expand its service points and dealer networks. She expressed optimism about the future presence of BYD cars on German roads, indicating that changes and improvements would soon be seen.
Reuters contributed to this article.
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