Volkswagen Passat was the first model ever to be produced in Bratislava after Volkswagen started vehicle production in Slovakia in 1991. (source: Courtesy of Volkswagen Slovakia)
The introduction of tariffs on Chinese electric cars in the European Union may have a significant impact on the Slovak automotive industry, the Slovak Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA) warns in response to the European Commission’s plan of increasing tariffs on Chinese electric cars temporarily as of this July.
“In discussions about the introduction of extra tariffs on Chinese electric cars, we as a country should stand on the side of those who reject such interventions,” said SEVA director Patrik Križanský as cited by the SITA newswire on June 14. “If China responded as it announced some time ago (that is, it will introduce reciprocal import tariffs especially on SUVs with internal combustion engines), it would mean the loss of markets and job threats for Slovak manufacturers.”
A while ago, Bloomberg named Slovakia as the country which, together with Germany, would be the most exposed to Chinese retaliatory tariffs, in relation to cars.
China has already announced that it will take some retaliatory measures, targeting European farmers instead of carmakers. It has initiated an anti-dumping probe into European pork exports.
Križanský argued that the competitive pressure of China can also bring about an acceleration of development, making production more efficient and cheaper.
“It is necessary to support the transition of the Slovak automobile industry and also the entire local subcontractor chain towards electromobility,” said Križanský. “Everyone will gradually switch to electromobility, and the sooner we understand it as an opportunity, the better.”
The export of vehicles manufactured in Slovakia to China reaches an annual volume of €2.3 billion, SEVA notes.
