German VDA Weighs Opening 42% Utilized Plants to Chinese Brands as Cost Pressures Bite
Updated
Updated · speedme.ru · Jul 12
German VDA Weighs Opening 42% Utilized Plants to Chinese Brands as Cost Pressures Bite
1 articles · Updated · speedme.ru · Jul 12
Summary
German auto lobby VDA said keeping every plant and job intact is no longer realistic and is considering opening idle German and European factories to foreign automakers, including Chinese brands.
High energy costs, taxes, bureaucracy and rigid labor rules are driving the rethink, with the model aimed at filling spare capacity without building new plants.
Volkswagen illustrates the strain: average utilization at its German plants could fall from 81% in 2026 to 73% by decade-end, while Zwickau may drop from 88% to 42%.
Chinese groups are already probing European capacity—BYD confirmed talks with Stellantis and others, Xpeng lined up assembly at Magna's Graz plant, and Leapmotor is using a Stellantis factory in Madrid.
The shift could include German-brand models developed in China or Chinese marques built in Europe, signaling a broader break from the old structure of Europe's auto industry.