Chinese-owned carmaker MG is accelerating plans to build its first factory in Europe as Beijing seeks to forge closer ties with Brussels to combat Donald Trump’s trade war.
The historic British sports car brand, which was sold to Chinese owners two decades ago, is poised to reveal proposals for the new plant as soon as this summer, with a second site on the continent also understood to be under consideration.
China is seeking to build stronger ties with the EU after accusing Mr Trump of “acts of bullying” over his 145pc tariffs on Chinese imports. China has imposed retaliatory tariffs of 125pc in response.
While MG does not sell cars in the US, the Chinese carmaker’s push to build two European plants in quick succession is likely to fuel concerns in the White House about Beijing’s push to court Brussels.
Mr Trump has cited buoyant US sales of brands like BMW and VW and the aversion of European consumers to buy US cars as one of the main drivers of his car tariffs policy.
The historic British sports car brand, which was sold to Chinese owners two decades ago, is poised to reveal proposals for the new plant as soon as this summer, with a second site on the continent also understood to be under consideration.
China is seeking to build stronger ties with the EU after accusing Mr Trump of “acts of bullying” over his 145pc tariffs on Chinese imports. China has imposed retaliatory tariffs of 125pc in response.
While MG does not sell cars in the US, the Chinese carmaker’s push to build two European plants in quick succession is likely to fuel concerns in the White House about Beijing’s push to court Brussels.
Mr Trump has cited buoyant US sales of brands like BMW and VW and the aversion of European consumers to buy US cars as one of the main drivers of his car tariffs policy.
7 months ago
