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BYD says it will “take over” any price lists imposed on Chinese electric cars if they are ever added to the UK.
Europe is threatening Chinese electric cars with import price lists of up to 35 percent, while the United States has added 100 percent tariffs to Chinese-made models in a bid to protect domestic manufacturers.
These price lists have not yet taken hold in the UK, but they are a very genuine concern of car dealers representing Chinese brands.
A BYD franchisee privately told Car Dealer that the risk of price listings in the UK could “severely hurt” the brand’s expansion and sales.
Asked if he was concerned about the imaginable price lists of UK imports, BYD’s head of marketing in the UK, Mark Blundell, said: “It’s not something we’ve discussed in depth.
“It is not something I can comment on because it is a matter of the government. This is an EU tariff at the moment and not the UK’s, so we will deal with what happens to us, when it happens to us, if it happens at all.
“It’s anything that stresses me out. “
The EU has tabled a move (to be voted on until November 2) that will add additional price lists of 25% to the 10% tax already in place for Chinese electric cars.
The move increases the value consumers pay for Chinese cars at dealerships, unless they dial in the costs.
The EU fears that Chinese carmakers have received unfair merit after years of heavy state subsidies.
Blundell also told Car Dealer that he would like the new government to boost the UK car market in the adoption of electric vehicles.
He said: “In my opinion, I think what the government can do would be useful.
“From BYD’s point of view, we have the luxury of being in this expansion phase anyway, although of course it would drive change.
“If there were incentives, we would appreciate it, as I think everyone would be. But it’s not something we worry about at night right now.
Blundell explained that BYD plans to have up to 100 dealerships in the UK. It currently operates 33, and this number will increase to forty-five in the coming months.
He added: “By the end of the year, we will possibly have about 60 sites. We now have the right number of partners and are expanding our network, thanks to them.
James is the founder and editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine and CEO of parent company Baize Group. James has been an automotive journalist for over 20 years and writes about automobiles and the automotive industry.
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