Stellantis and Renault Push for UK Inclusion in EU Auto Protections
The carmakers want Britain treated as an EU member state under proposed 'Made in Europe' rules and are calling for limits on Chinese imports.
Two of Europe's largest automakers are urging the European Union to extend proposed industry protections to the United Kingdom, while simultaneously pressing the British government to restrict Chinese vehicle imports. Stellantis and Renault made the joint appeal through their top executives, signaling a rare alignment of French and pan-European manufacturing interests around a common trade strategy.
Emanuele Cappellano, who oversees Stellantis's portfolio of European brands — including Fiat, Citroën, Opel, and Vauxhall — and Renault chief executive François Provost argued that the UK should be treated on par with the EU's 27 member states under the bloc's forthcoming 'Made in Europe' legislation. The position reflects the deeply integrated nature of cross-Channel automotive supply chains, where components and finished vehicles routinely move between British and continental facilities.
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The executives' stance carries significant commercial weight. Stellantis operates major UK manufacturing sites, including the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, while Renault's broader European network depends on fluid trade access. Any 'Made in Europe' framework that excluded the UK could disrupt both sourcing decisions and market access for models assembled on British soil.
Beyond the EU framework, both companies are pressing Westminster directly on the question of Chinese competition. Automakers across Europe have grown increasingly vocal about the competitive threat posed by heavily subsidized Chinese electric vehicles entering Western markets, and the call for UK-level import restrictions mirrors pressure that led the EU to impose additional tariffs on Chinese EVs last year.
The dual lobbying effort underscores how legacy automakers are navigating a rapidly shifting trade landscape — seeking protective alignment with Europe while pushing individual governments to act unilaterally against low-cost Asian rivals. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
