The European Commission says China hasn’t been playing fair in that its government has been paying subsidies through “direct transfer of funds,” among other actions, reports Reuters – which the EC says tips the balance in China’s favor and leaves European automakers out to dry.
Back in October 2023, Europe launched its formal investigation into the Chinese EV industry, as European companies are struggling to compete with the cheap, high-tech Chinese imports, made by low-cost labor, entering the European Union.
A lot of electricity is still made with fossil fuels and new cars (even electric) are worse for the environment than buying used
On top of that China is trying to get rid of competition with subsidies
It’s not as black and white as you think
We are in the middle of a climate crisis where every year of inaction dooms countless to death or at the very least catastrophically reduced quality of life.
It is absolutely one of the few things that is actually black and white.
Is China playing unfair? Yes, but it really doesn’t matter at this point, they are making more EVs and the correct response at this point is just to do the same.
We are in an emergency, act accordingly.
@dumpsterlid
Slavery or forced labour, which is arguably a major economic driver for EV in China, is not the solution. We don’t act accordingly if we allow something like that.
By this logic buying any modern electronic devices or tools is not acting accordingly.
Also, I’m sorry I just don’t buy that this has anything to do with giving a shit about Chinese workers, it’s about portraying China as the Big Bad .
@dumpsterlid
This is largely true, and it is largely true because a lot of modern electronic devices -or at least some of their parts- are ‘Made in China’.
Europe must urgently work to gain back its production capabilities and force out any unfair competition, whoever this is or will be.