BYD's first car carrier 'BYD Explorer 1' waits for its load at Yantai Port, Shandong province, on July 5, 2024. Photo: CFOTO
Yesterday carmaker Volkswagen announced it may have to shut two of its factories in Germany - the first-ever closures in its home country.
It cited a tough economic environment...and new competitors.
VW didn't specify those, but last week leading Chinese carmaker BYD announced it would take over its distributor in Germany - allowing it to sell cars directly in Europe's biggest auto market.
In fact BYD sold a record number of cars in August.
That market dominance by Chinese new energy vehicles has accelerated tensions between the east and west, which has seen the US and Canada slap 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs and an anti-subsidy investigation in the EU.
Kathryn is joined by Scott Kennedy of the Center for Strategic and International Studies to make sense of this trade dispute.
