German, Japanese, American, & Korean Auto Manufacturers Call On Chinese Government To Delay & Weaken EV Quota Plans

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China’s plans for relatively aggressive electric vehicle sales quotas are unnerving some prominent foreign auto manufacturers, going by recent reports.

This isn’t too surprising, of course, since China is now home to the largest auto market in the world, so a potential loss of business in the country probably isn’t something that manufacturers are too willing to accept. But neither is the push towards electric vehicles, apparently.

In a letter addressed to China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Miao Wei, a coalition of large auto manufacturers assert that the goal for at least a fifth of new vehicle sales in China to be of either hybrids or all-electrics by 2025 is “impossible” to meet and would cause large disruptions to business operations.

As it stands, China’s new energy vehicles (NEVs) policy will see the implementation of staggered quotas for manufacturers beginning next year.

The letter — which was signed by the American Automotive Policy Council (AAPC), the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), and the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) — makes some generally unconvincing arguments against this.

“The proposed rules’ ambitious enforcement date is not possible to meet, and if unchanged would lead to a widespread disruption of the product portfolio of most automakers operating in China. At a minimum, the mandate needs to be delayed a year and include additional flexibilities,” the letter stated.

“Because we have common concerns with the proposed NEV rules, we have joined together to offer, with utmost respect, six recommended modifications that address those concerns while still meeting the goals of those rules and other related policies,” the letter continued.

Reuters provides more: “The foreign automakers requested a delay in implementing the quotas and for China to reconsider some of the penalties for not reaching them, such as plans to ban carmakers from importing and producing non-NEV vehicles altogether.

“They also called for equal treatment of Chinese and foreign makers. Currently foreign carmakers are excluded from getting full subsidies for NEVs and batteries, leaving manufacturers such as US group Tesla, at a disadvantage.

“Foreign manufacturers also want more credit given to plug-in hybrid cars, and for carmakers to be allowed to ‘bank’ credits accrued from already sold cars as well as to ‘carry forward’ credits into subsequent model years.

“In addition, they are seeking an ability to purchase NEV credits from the Chinese government.”

So, about what you’d expect from large automakers. The foreign auto manufacturers want the teeth removed from the Chinese government’s plans. How likely is it China will loosen their requirements?


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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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