Nio founder William Li hit out at the European Union and the U.S., saying their moves to level tariffs on electric cars are unreasonable and urged them to cooperate with, rather than fight, China.
Expanding the use of electric vehicles is a crucial step in combating climate change and achieving sustainable global development, and any measures aimed at impeding this process would be unwise, Li said in a recent interview, industry publication Dongchedi reported.
The EU has proposed introducing tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, claiming companies there benefit unfairly from state subsidies and are flooding Europe with surplus production. The bloc is expected to vote on the decision early next month.
Beijing has dismissed the EU’s anti-subsidy probe as protectionist and has been in intensive talks with the EU to explore alternatives to tariffs.
The two sides are discussing a mechanism to control prices and volumes of exports, but the negotiations are yet to produce a resolution.