Foreign media: Chinese automakers are rapidly transforming from export-oriented enterprises into local participants deeply integrated into Europe's automotive industry chain. This strategic shift has expanded beyond merely exporting low-cost electric vehicles to encompass local assembly, manufacturing partnerships, R&D center establishment, supply chain investments, and production base deployment.
The most recent and emblematic development is the preliminary agreement signed between Chery Automobile and Nissan—both parties intend to explore the feasibility of producing Chery models at Nissan’s Sunderland plant. According to the memorandum of understanding, Chery passenger vehicles could potentially roll off the production line at the facility as early as the first half of next year. The Sunderland plant is the largest automotive production hub in the UK, employing around 6,000 people, yet currently suffering from severely underutilized capacity.
Meanwhile, SAIC Group is also advancing a similar layout in Spain. These two cases together reveal a deeper logic: traditional European and Japanese automakers are seeking to revitalize idle production capacity, while Chinese automakers require local manufacturing bases to support their ongoing expansion in the European market—aligning interests closely, marking a transition in Sino-European automotive relations from competition toward cooperative coexistence.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867536675497993/
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