Over the past several months, much ado has been made about the potential competitive and national security threats posed by Chinese EVs, which are being built in large quantities and are heavily subsidized, then sold for far less than rivals. This is due to the fact that Chinese EVs are being sold in other markets now – not just China – which has prompted places like the U.S., Canada, and Europe to either consider imposing tariffs on those models or do precisely that. However, it seems as if the UK – which has ambitious zero-emissions plans in place – won’t be following suit.
According to Reuters, British trade minister Jonathan Reynolds has stated that the UK doesn’t plan to follow other parts of the world and impose any sort of tariffs on Chinese EVs, and added that no company in that country has asked for such actions, either, though he left open the possibility that it could revisit that concept if needed. “I do have the power as the Secretary of State to make that referral … We keep it under close analysis, but I think it’s important our industry is different, and as of yet industry itself hasn’t asked for that referral to the TRA [Trade Remedies Authority],” he said.
At least part of this decision stems from the fact that the UK is aiming to reach an 80 percent EV sales mix by 2030 – formerly set at 100 percent – though thus far, it has struggled to meet intermediate targets as demand has proven a bit soft and sales have flattened. Ford has long supported the UK’s ZEV goals, but also recently noted that robust incentives on EVs will be necessary if it wants to achieve them – sentiments echoed by certain government officials.
Automakers that don’t achieve the UK’s ZEV sales goals face steep fines, though Ford recently admitted that it may stop selling ICE models in that country altogether if that is indeed the case. “We can’t push EVs into the market against demand. We’re not going to pay penalties. We are not going to sell EVs at huge losses just to buy compliance,” Ford Europe Model e head Martin Sander explained.
Comments
In that case, cheap Chinese EVs will own the entire British market. Nobody can compete with the heavily subsidized Chinese vehicles. And the Chinese Communist Party will get a massive surveillance network…that the British will pay them for.
So what, let them spy. Driving to work, going shopping? Who cares? At least the British can buy a reasonably priced reliable EV. Wish Canada would do the same thing.