20:28 21 April 2026
Chinese make cheap combustion cars, and Europe has no answers
Europe and Poland’s auto industry lack a clear plan to compete with Chinese carmakers, who are moving faster and adapting more effectively, says Wojciech Drzewiecki of SAMAR. He argues the EU has sent mixed signals by pushing electric vehicles while repeatedly softening deadlines, leaving manufacturers without a long-term strategy.
In his view, Europe should focus on zero emissions rather than a single technology, while building stronger charging infrastructure instead of mainly subsidizing car purchases. He also says Chinese brands gained ground by filling the gap left when European firms abandoned cheaper mass-market models.
Drzewiecki believes Europe must either develop its own long-term industrial strategy or require Chinese producers to invest in manufacturing, R&D, and jobs in Europe rather than simply exporting cars there.
