Business | Inspecting under the bonnet

Chinese carmakers are under scrutiny in Europe

The EU launches an anti-subsidy investigation

Visitors look at a BYD Seal car at the IAA motor show in Munich, Germany, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. — Image: AP

Sep 14th 2023|MUNICH

Flashy temporary pavilions in Munich’s city centre displaying the latest models from bmw, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen were the public face of iaa Mobility, Germany’s biennial motor show, which ended on September 10th. German automotive might was less in evidence in the show halls a few miles away, where the Chinese electric vehicles (evs) that are making inroads in Europe vied for attention and floor space. The fear of a flood of well-made, decently styled and better-value evs from the east outcompeting those from Europe’s established carmakers has now jolted the eu’s lawmakers into action.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Inspecting under the bonnet”