Mercedes Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius is anticipating a decision on the EU’s import tariffs for Chinese electric vehicles in the near future. The decision, initially expected this week, was postponed until after the upcoming election in the bloc. The European Commission initiated an investigation in October to determine if fully-electric cars manufactured in China were benefiting from subsidies that could warrant additional tariffs. Kaellenius continues to express his opposition to restrictions but recognizes that some countries are supporting their national producers in violation of WTO rules. He believes that stimulating trade is a more effective approach than resorting to protectionism, especially for Germany with its export-driven economy. Mercedes, along with BMW and Volkswagen, heavily relies on revenues from the Chinese market and manufactures some of its models there.
