The European Commission has advanced its proposal to impose definitive tariffs on electric vehicles manufactured in the Chinese mainland, gaining the necessary backing from member states as announced on Friday.
At the Berlin Global Dialogue held on Wednesday, Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group, criticized the European Commission's approach, describing the direct imposition of tariffs as a \"very crude\" instrument. Källenius emphasized the need for more nuanced solutions to address the complexities of international trade and competition in the electric vehicle sector.
He highlighted that Mercedes-Benz maintains a significant presence in both the Chinese and European markets, underscoring the company's reliance on broad market access to sustain its global operations. Imposing such tariffs could hinder the company's ability to effectively serve its diverse customer base and adapt to the evolving demands of the global automotive industry.
The proposal by the European Commission aims to protect the region's automotive industry amidst the rising competition from electric vehicles manufactured outside the European mainland. However, industry leaders like Källenius argue that collaborative and strategic approaches would be more effective in fostering innovation and ensuring fair competition.
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Mercedes-Benz CEO: Directly imposing tariffs 'very crude' instrument
cgtn.com
