ADVERTISEMENT

Volvo Car Is Shifting EV Production To Belgium From China

Volvo Car AB has started to shift manufacturing of Chinese-made electric vehicles to Belgium as the European Union prepares to impose tariffs on China-made EVs, The Times reported.

The Volvo logo on an Electric truck parked outside the Volvo AB Trucks Tuve plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Volvo are due to release their latest earnings on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg
The Volvo logo on an Electric truck parked outside the Volvo AB Trucks Tuve plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Volvo are due to release their latest earnings on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

Volvo Car AB has started to shift manufacturing of Chinese-made electric vehicles to Belgium as the European Union prepares to impose tariffs on China-made EVs, The Times reported.

On top of transferring production of Volvo’s EX30 and EX90 models to Belgium, the carmaker may also move assembly of some Volvo models bound for the UK, the report said, citing unidentified people. Volvo, which is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., is seen as the most exposed among western automakers to the potential tariffs, the Times said. 

Trade frictions between the EU and China have led to a barrage of anti-dumping probes against Beijing amid allegations of unfair subsidies. The EU is expected to tell EV makers in China as early as next week whether it will impose provisional tariffs from July 4 that would boost import duties above the current level of 10%. China last week accused the EU of working to “suppress” Chinese companies and said it will take action to safeguard its interests.

The accusations of unfair competition against China are completely unfounded, Xinhua News Agency reported today, citing earlier comments from Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. Wang said he hoped the EU would abandon trade protectionism and return to the path of dialog and cooperation, Xinhua said.

In a separate dispute, Chinese dairy companies are preparing to ask Beijing to open an anti-dumping investigation against imports from the EU, the Global Times reported yesterday, without providing details.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.