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The Great EV Glut
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The Great EV Glut

Can the E.U. save its auto industry from Chinese-made EVs and still keep its green transition going?

Luke Patey
The Wire China, 2024
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China appears to be achieving hegemony in the manufacture of electric cars, with few obstacles in its way. The European Union now faces strong Chinese competition in its EV market, and policy discord among EU members on how best to address the issue of Chinese exports could raise the risk of a trade war. In this informative article, academic Luke Patey draws out the sticking points in China–EU trade that affect not just their economies but their decarbonization efforts as well.

Summary

Some 20% of all EVs sold in Europe will be Chinese imports by 2027.

Half the value of an electric vehicle is in its battery. The Chinese electric car company BYD started out as a battery manufacturer. It grew to produce automobiles, and since then it has experienced a rapid ascent: One sign of its rise is its June 2024 sponsorship of the UEFA European Football Championship.

European auto manufacturers are concerned. The EV products of Chinese carmakers, which are skilled in cost reduction, performance, and innovation, will make up 20% of the European market for EVs by 2027. China’s increasing dominance could put the European automotive industry — which employs nearly ...

About the Author

Luke Patey is a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies and Lead Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University’s Institute for Energy Studies.

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