Stellantis and Renault Urge UK Inclusion in EU Car Protections, Caution on China Imports

Leaders from two major automotive groups, Stellantis and Renault, have publicly endorsed the United Kingdom’s inclusion in proposed European Union safeguards for the regional car manufacturing sector. However, they simultaneously advised the British government to evaluate restrictions on electric vehicles and other automobiles imported from China.

Emanuele Cappellano, who oversees Stellantis’s European portfolio including Fiat, Citroën, Opel, and Vauxhall, alongside François Provost, the chief executive of Renault, argued that the UK ought to be treated as equivalent to one of the 27 EU member states under the auspices of the proposed “Made in Europe” legislation.

The push for inclusion aims to ensure that the UK car industry benefits from the same protective measures designed to bolster European manufacturing capabilities. The dual recommendation highlights the complex position the UK faces in post-Brexit trade relations, balancing closer alignment with EU industrial policy against concerns regarding market competition from Chinese producers.