China has extended an invitation to European carmakers to maintain and increase their investments in the country, promoting collaboration with local partners to drive the 'green and intelligent' transition of the automotive industry. The message was conveyed by China's Vice Minister of Commerce, Ling Ji, during two separate video conferences: one with Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and another with Ola Kallenius, president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, as reported by the Argentine News Agency.
The central focus of the meetings was the European Union's (EU) anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Vice Minister Ling Ji, highlighting the deep integration of the Chinese and European automotive industries, urged the German and European associations to use their influence to encourage the European Commission to work with Beijing. He also assured that German manufacturers are continuously increasing their investments in China and that the association opposes the EU's imposition of countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles.
Ola Kallenius (ACEA and Mercedes-Benz) pointed out that European manufacturers are increasing their localization efforts and have become deeply integrated into Chinese production and supply chains. The goal is to find an 'adequate solution' to the EV dispute 'as soon as possible.'
European representatives showed their agreement on the need for cooperation and expressed their opposition to protectionist measures. Hildegard Müller (VDA) stated that the cooperation between Germany and China has yielded fruitful results. She expressed her hope that both parties will adopt a pragmatic approach to resolve the subsidy case and strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chains.
The meeting underscores the mutual interest in protecting bilateral investment and trade in the automotive sector, especially in the context of the rapid evolution towards electrification and smart technology.
