VolvoA montadora sueca, de propriedade da China‘s Geely, is moving production of its electric vehicles (EVs) from China to Belgium as the European Union (EU) considers imposing tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, according to a report by The Times.

UE investiga subsídios chineses para veículos elétricos

The European Commission launched an investigation in October 2023 to determine whether Chinese-made EVs are receiving unfair subsidies and if additional tariffs are necessary. The probe, which can last up to 13 months, has strained relations between China and the EU, with the latter seeking to reduce its reliance on the world’s second-largest economy.

Volvo’s Production Shift

A Volvo está supostamente transferindo a produção de seus modelos EX30 e EX90 da China para a Bélgica para evitar possíveis tarifas. O The Times, citando pessoas de dentro da empresa, também informou que a Volvo havia considerado a possibilidade de interromper as vendas de veículos elétricos fabricados na China com destino a Europa se as tarifas fossem introduzidas. No entanto, a empresa insistiu mais tarde que a suspensão das vendas de EVs fabricados na China não estava mais sendo considerada.

Modelos com destino ao Reino Unido também podem se mudar

A fabricação de determinados modelos da Volvo destinados à Reino Unido também poderia ser transferido para a Bélgica, de acordo com o relatório do The Times.

EVXL’s Take

The potential shift in Volvo’s EV production highlights the growing tensions between the EU and China, as well as the increasing importance of EVs in the global automotive industry. As the EU seeks to reduce its dependence on China and protect its own EV manufacturers, automakers like Volvo may need to adapt their production strategies to navigate the changing geopolitical landscape. This move could also have implications for the future of EV production and the role of China in the global EV supply chain.