PARIS — Stellantis has no plans to maneuver manufacturing of the electrical Peugeot e-208 to France from Spain regardless of a push from the French authorities for extra regionally made vehicles, CEO Carlos Tavares mentioned in an interview revealed on Wednesday.
“The economic equation link to the imposed relocation of this project would not be in the interest of the company nor the country,” Tavares advised French every day newspaper Le Figaro.
Electric autos are dearer than their fossil-fuel counterparts and European automakers are in search of to construct cheaper fashions, inspired by authorities subsidies.
France, for instance, plans a subsidy for EVs produced in Europe as they’d have a decrease carbon footprint than imported fashions and a social leasing program providing EVs for about 100 euros ($108) monthly to poorer households.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire mentioned small EVs ought to be in-built France along with higher-end fashions.
“I know Carlos Tavares enjoys challenges … I ask him to take up the challenge to build small electric vehicles, like the 208, in France. Maybe not the whole car but why not parts of it,” he advised BFM TV.
The Tavares and Le Maire have tussled over the problem in latest months.
Renault plans to construct its subsequent small EVs, the Renault 5 hatchback and Renault 4 SUV, in France.
The e-208 is in-built Zaragoza, Spain, whereas internal-combustion variations are in-built Kenitra, Morocco, and Trnava, Slovakia.
Last month, Stellantis, the world’s No. 3 automaker primarily based on gross sales, mentioned it might unveil its first European-made inexpensive electrical automotive in mid-October, the Citroen New e-C3, because it gears as much as counter the arrival of low-cost Chinese manufacturers within the area. An identical electrical mannequin is at present in-built India for the home market.
The want for extra inexpensive European fashions has been pushed by Chinese EV manufacturers, that are seen as a risk to European automakers as they provide cheaper fashions.
“The results will tell us who made the right call amidst the Chinese competition,” Tavares advised Le Figaro, including that the Chinese automakers’ prices had been 20 to 25 p.c decrease than these of the European corporations.
Source: europe.autonews.com