China takes over Europe’s decaying car factories

The deals could make sense for the European side, says Sander Tordoir, of the Centre for European Reform, but only if Brussels, Berlin and Paris ensure there are strings attached.

“It would be naive to sell Germany’s excess car plants to Chinese competitors without setting any type of conditions, both on value-add requirements to employ German workers and engineers, and for Chinese battery and EV producers to engage in technology transfer,” he says.

He predicts European leaders would be in a position to make these demands of the Chinese if they start signalling to Beijing now that they’re prepared to play hardball with tougher trade and industrial policies.