Breakingviews - COMMENTARY: Europe's carmakers set course for managed decline

At the Paris Motor Show, competing visions of the auto future were on display: China’s Xpeng promoted humanoid robots, driverless and even flying cars, while Volkswagen’s CEO Oliver Blume pushed affordable EVs and asked for more EU industry support. Breakingviews argues that “relying on Europe” may still lead to managed decline as Chinese brands gain ground, already taking 9% of the European market in the first half of the year. The European Commission is tightening trade measures, including tariffs and new rules to subsidise “Made in Europe.” But even capped hybrid exports and potential sourcing requirements may not fully contain the competitive threat.