Audi's factory in Brussels
Chinese EV maker Nio has emerged as a potential buyer for Audi's plant in Brussels, which is facing possible closure.
Nio is preparing a purchase offer for the factory, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reported.
Audi parent Volkswagen Group said in July it was considering closing the Brussels site due to low demand for the Q8 E-Tron, the plant's only model.
Producing cars in Brussels would help Nio to avoid higher tariffs on Chinese EV imports imposed by the European Union.
The EU is applying tariffs of 21 percent on Nio electric cars exported to Europe following its investigation into whether EVs built in China receive unfair government subsidies.
Nio declined to comment on the report when asked by Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche,
Representatives of Belgian trade unions told Automobilwoche that a delegation of potential Chinese investors had visited the Brussels plant.
Nio sold 1,777 cars in Europe in the first 8 months led by the ET7 sedan, according to market researcher Dataforce.
