Tesla, BMW, Renault exports from China are part of EU anti-subsidy probe

Tesla and European automakers that export from China to the European Union will be part of the bloc's probe into whether the country's electric vehicles industry is receiving unfair subsidies, the Financial Times reported, citing Brussels' most senior trade official.

The European Commission has launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU producers against cheaper Chinese EV imports that it says are benefiting from state subsidies.

EU executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis said the probe is not limited to EVs from Chinese brands.

"It can be also other producers’ vehicles if they are receiving production-side subsidies,” Dombrovskis told the Financial Times.

Tesla exports the Model 3 to Europe from its Shanghai plant, Renault exports the Dacia Spring EV to Europe from China, BMW exports its China-built iX3 EV to Europe and some Volvo models as well as Polestar models sold in Europe are built in China.

During the evidence-gathering that precipitated the EU's announcement this month of its anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs, Tesla was among the companies found to have likely benefited, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

The aim of the EU's investigation will be to determine whether, and to what degree, China has subsidized Tesla and domestic manufacturers including BYD, SAIC Motor and Nio, and to take any necessary counter measures to level the playing field for the EU's industry, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

Tesla started exporting Model 3 sedans built at its Shanghai factory in late 2020, less than a year after starting production at its first car plant outside of the U.S. By July 2021, Tesla referred to the facility as its primary vehicle export hub.

Through the first seven months, Tesla sold an estimated 93,700 China-made vehicles across Western Europe, accounting for roughly 47 percent of its total deliveries, according to Schmidt Automotive Research. The next biggest exporter of EVs from China to Europe was SAIC's MG, with roughly 57,500 registrations.

Tesla has enjoyed perks in China that other international companies struggled to obtain, with the most notable being the Chinese government's blessing to wholly own its domestic operations, rather than have to share custody with a local joint venture partner.

Tax breaks, cheap loans and other forms of assistance helped turn China into Tesla's most important market outside the U.S.

These and other forms of support that China provides domestic manufacturers, including credits from state-owned banks, capital provisions from state investment funds, and provisions of land and electricity, are now coming under EU scrutiny. Chinese automakers also benefit from subsidies in related sectors across the value chain, including batteries and software.

The EU probe has the potential to reshape the competitive dynamics in Europe, the world's second-largest EV market, after China.

Both sides have ample reason to proceed carefully: While the EU risks exposing its manufacturers to potential retaliation, the bloc is the most attractive export destination for Chinese companies rife with excess production capacity.

BMW and Renault operate joint ventures with Chinese manufacturers. A BMW spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment and a representative from Renault had no immediate comment. 

After having collected initial evidence that formed the basis for launching the investigation, the EU is now looking to consult with relevant authorities -- including in China -- and companies to determine the extent to which subsidies may be undercutting EU producers, if at all.

In recent probes of other sectors such as e-bikes and fiber-optic cables, the EU discovered subsidy margins ranging from 4 percent to 17 percent, people familiar with the findings said.

Any amount of edge is critical in the low-margin auto industry, which Europe is increasingly pressuring to electrify as part of its broader Green Deal initiatives.

The EU adopted standards earlier this year requiring manufacturers to slash 55 percent of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars by 2030, and to allow only zero emission car to be sold after 2035.

Bloomberg and Reuters contributed to this report