Why Opel, Peugeot and Fiat are afraid of you buying a Chinese car

Chinese cars have been an integral part of price lists since last year. In 2022, a total of 131 new cars were launched or presented. Carlos Tavaras (CEO Stellantis), manufacturer of Fiat, Peugeot and Opel among others, fears that these cars will make European brands disappear.

Although many Autovisie readers state in the comments that they are not interested in a car from the Asian giant, there are also enough Dutch people who opt for a product from Geely or SAIC, for example.

The price difference in Chinese cars is significant

“The price difference between European and Chinese cars is significant. Unless the current situation is changed, middle-class European consumers will increasingly turn to Chinese models,” Stellantis CEO told Automobilwoche.

The CEO of Stellantis says that the production costs of European electric cars, for example from Fiat, Peugeot or Opel, are 40 percent higher than if the same car were not made in Europe. This has to do with the regulations of the European Union.

Tavares argues that unless Europe intervenes, they will be forced to move production abroad. Then there is a situation that, according to the CEO, can be compared to the production of solar panels.

Important changes in EU policy

According to Tavaras, major changes in the policies of the European Union and more industry in Europe are necessary. The CEO of Stellantis wants to see work on our continent that hasn’t been done in this part of the world for a long time. The manufacturer of Fiat, Peugeot and Opel wants more independence from China and less competition from Asia. The question is whether this will ever happen. China is also an important market for many manufacturers as it is a huge country with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants. Much of the parts production takes place in China.

If the industry moves back to Europe, as the CEO wants, this will probably also affect the price of European electric cars. After all, manufacturers produce in China to save costs. If the production costs rise, you as the consumer ultimately have to pay for them.