Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, from BYD to Leapmotor, are voraciously seeking out manufacturing assets in Europe as the global energy crisis creates surging demand for battery-powered vehicles.Their pursuit of idled European assembly facilities owned by big names like Stellantis and Volkswagen is disrupting the pecking order in the global automotive industry, as the Chinese carmakers’ design and manufacturing heft sees them morph into international players.“China’s EV assemblers are hunting for production sites or facilities in droves,” said Phate Zhang, founder of Shanghai-based data provider CnEVPost. “Indeed, the [overseas asset] buying interest provides a microcosm of the global automotive sector, where emerging Chinese EV builders are set to erode the market share of established conventional petrol car manufacturers.”