IT News on October 12th: According to a report by The Financial Times today, Oliver Blum ( Oliver Blume ) of Volkswagen Group stated on Sunday (October 11th), local time, ahead of the Paris Motor Show that France and Germany should strengthen their cooperation to jointly address the challenges posed by China's automotive industry.
Blum stated that France and Germany should strengthen their cooperation to enhance the competitiveness of the European automotive industry. Given the pressure posed by Chinese competitors, it is not too late to take action now.
Bloom expressed support for the EU's proposals aimed at strengthening European industries, emphasizing that the 'Made in Europe' rules should reward Europe for creating real value.
Bloom pointed out that Chinese brands are growing rapidly in Europe, and Volkswagen is one of the companies most severely affected. He mentioned that the company plans to lay off up to 100,000 employees, calling it the largest transformation in its history.
Bloom emphasized that Europe needs to face significant competitive pressures due to high energy costs and low demand resulting from high inflation.
He also emphasized that companies investing and developing in Europe should receive clear benefits. "Companies selling here should compete fairly in Europe, creating jobs and value," said Bloom.
IT has noted that at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, the largest automotive exhibition in Europe, 100 exhibitors set up booths, among which about 60 were automobile manufacturers. Chinese automobile brands accounted for a record 20, making up a full third of the total.
In contrast, only 10 Chinese brands participated in the previous auto show in 2024, but that number has doubled in just two years. The influence of Chinese automobiles on the European automotive industry is continuously expanding, and the growth rate is also quite astonishing.
The number of Chinese brands at this year's Paris Motor Show has doubled compared to 2024. In addition to BYD and Chery, new players such as WM Motor, AVITA, Li Auto, GAC Aion, and 212 will also be present.
