Chinese EV manufacturers and their partners have continued to push the boundaries of innovation, resulting in a substantial industrial edge, and this advantage is not a product of state subsidies, a statement said.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) expressed its concern and opposition after the EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation against electric vehicles (EVs) from China.

"We strongly encourage the EU to approach the progress of China's electric vehicle industry with objectivity rather than resorting to unilateral economic and trade measures that could obstruct or elevate the development and operational expenses of Chinese electric vehicle products within the European market," the chamber said in a September 13 statement.

The EU's commitment to market openness must be translated into practical measures to ensure a fair, impartial, and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies, the statement said.

Restricting products solely on the basis of country of origin would be contrary to the EU's WTO commitments, the statement added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced yesterday that the EU is launching an investigation into EVs from China.

The EV sector is a crucial industry for a clean economy and has huge potential for Europe, but the global market is now flooded with cheaper Chinese EVs, she said.

Chinese EV prices are kept artificially low by huge state subsidies, which are distorting the EU market, she said.

Chinese EV manufacturers and their upstream and downstream industry partners continue to push the boundaries of innovation. By working together, they have achieved significant industry advantages in the highly competitive Chinese domestic market and on the global arena, the CCCEU statement said.

Chinese EV makers deliver high-end or cost-effective EVs that cater to different consumer preferences and are well received globally, including in Europe, the statement said.

"It's crucial to emphasize that this advantage isn't a product of what the commission side called 'huge state subsidies,'" the statement read.

China's EV industry has strong partnerships with European and global automotive industry networks, and the creation of each EV requires the joint efforts of tens of thousands of suppliers around the world, the statement said.

After the EU's move sparked widespread debate, several analysts said the EU's allegations of low prices for Chinese EVs were not valid, and that opinions within the bloc were not uniform.

The EU's move was expected, but the actual impact will be relatively small and the prospects for Chinese carmakers to enter international markets remain intact, Sinolink Securities' automotive team said yesterday.

Analysts downplay impact of EU anti-subsidy probe on EVs from China