By Matteo Rosemin
Renault chief Jean-Dominique Senard told Reuters on Saturday that a “Chinese storm” is looming over Europe’s growing electric vehicle sector, at a time when the Asian superpower dominates key raw materials for battery manufacturing. Zero emissions cars.
Senard said China’s recent decision to restrict exports of two metals — gallium and germanium — used in semiconductors and electric vehicles should raise red flags for European leaders because it shows the continent’s overreliance on China and the need to build an expensive supply chain. interview.
“When I talk about a Chinese storm, I’m talking about the strong pressure today related to Chinese (electric) car imports into Europe,” Senard said.
“We are capable of making electric cars, but we are struggling to ensure the safety of our supply,” he said, adding that China’s electric car industry and supply chain for raw materials resulted from years of investments that will cost billions of euros to replicate.
China’s export restrictions are escalating the technology war with the United States, which could cause further disruption to global supply chains. Europe finds itself in the middle of the dispute, which forces it to look for alternatives in the worst case scenario.
Senard warned that “if there is a real geopolitical crisis, the damage to battery factories that operate only with products coming from abroad will be great.” “This is the case.”
Senard said developing alternative fuels — such as synthetic e-fuels and hydrogen — would be crucial in the event of a sudden battery shortage due to scarcity of raw materials.
“As any careful manufacturer would…we are looking for alternatives to avoid crippling the country, for example, if we run out of batteries.”
(Reporting by Mathieu Rosemayne; Additional reporting by Giles Guillaume; Editing by Mark Potter)