Oliver Zipse, BMW Group’s CEO, expressed his opposition on Wednesday to the “green light” for tariffs that the European Union intends to impose on the import of electric vehicles (EVs) from China, urging Olaf Scholz’s government to vote against the measure in the vote scheduled for this coming Friday.
Zipse believes that Germany’s economic “prosperity” is at stake, which in his view, depends on being open to global markets and free trade.
The automotive executive argues that additional tariffs, beyond the current ten per cent on imports, could harm German companies globally and “trigger a trade conflict that ultimately only has losers.”
“For this reason, the German government should take a clear stance and vote against the introduction of additional tariffs in the European Union,” he stated in a press release.
BMW Group’s position aligns with that of other German car manufacturers, who are also opposed to the imposition of tariffs.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has repeatedly called for the opening of global markets in recent months, while his counterpart at Volkswagen, Oliver Blume, has voiced concerns on several occasions about a potential trade conflict with China.
According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), last year, the country’s automotive industry exported vehicles and parts to China worth 26.3 billion euros, while imports of cars and components from China were valued at 6.8 billion euros.
This coming Friday, EU Member States will discuss the imposition of definitive tariffs of up to 45 per cent on imports of Chinese electric vehicles.
For the measure to be blocked, a qualified majority – 15 Member States representing 65% of the bloc’s population – would be needed.
So far, Spain and Germany, two of the four largest economies, have expressed opposition to the measure.
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