Drawing on reporting from the Paris International Motor Show that opened on October 12, the Global Times argued that 'Europe first' self-protection cannot solve the European auto industry's troubles and that cooperation with Chinese firms is the way forward. European officials emphasize 'Made in Europe' and fair competition.
In an article based on reporting by its contributors in France, the Global Times argued that 'Europe first' cannot block the broad trend of China-Europe auto cooperation. It said French President Emmanuel Macron, attending the Paris show for the last time as president when it opened on October 12 local time, pushed hard for the auto industry's return to 'Made in Europe.' Macron reportedly argued that public subsidies should favor vehicles produced within the EU across the value chain from batteries to parts. This is the Global Times' account, and we have not independently verified individual remarks.
광고 문의 · 300×250The background the paper cites is a slump in Europe's auto sector. Citing Radio France Internationale, it said France has lost about 38,600 auto-industry jobs over five years, Volkswagen is weighing plant closures and layoffs, and BMW is cutting thousands of positions. It also cited an Allianz study describing the crisis as partly self-inflicted, owing to long bets on combustion technology, an emphasis on dividends over R&D and conflicting industrial policies. Where the roots of the crisis lie is itself disputed within Europe.
The article gave several figures: more than one-third of the show's 60-plus brands are Chinese, outnumbering German and French domestic makers combined; Chinese brands held 10.7% of the European market in the second quarter of 2026, up from 5.7% a year earlier; Chinese cars reached 8% of the French market in September 2026; and a French survey found 37% of respondents trust Chinese carmakers. We could confirm these numbers only within the Global Times piece itself.
The paper noted that European carmakers are in practice partnering with Chinese firms. It said Stellantis' chief executive praised the 'Made in Europe' plan while his group deepens ties with Dongfeng and Leapmotor, and that Volkswagen's chief executive called for 'fair competition' and two days later Volkswagen agreed strategic cooperation with XPeng and SAIC. It quoted the head of the international automakers' association as saying Chinese makers want to produce in Europe as Japanese and Korean ones did and that the industry is entering a 'Chinese era.' BYD is seriously considering a French plant, and the Aito (Wenjie) brand said it will enter Europe in autumn 2027.
The Global Times concluded that the global auto landscape is being rapidly reshaped and that competing and cooperating within an open framework is the route to high-quality industry development. European figures such as Macron, however, stress a fair playing field and protecting jobs at home, and the EU earlier imposed countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles. The paper said the EU and China reached a consensus in consultations on autos and other areas, a claim based on Macron's remarks as relayed, with no details confirmed. How local-production investment, subsidy rules and trade remedies are reconciled will determine the balance between cooperation and protection.