In an interview with the Financial Times, Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group, urged the EU to encourage Chinese automakers to set up factories in Europe and to negotiate with Beijing on lifting tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles amid anti-subsidy tax discussions. He cautioned against protectionism, recalling how German carmakers entered China through joint ventures, and stressed the importance of open markets and fair competition. Källenius also emphasized China’s key role in the global automotive supply chain and called for a compromise with Beijing. As Chinese companies like BYD and CATL expand in Europe, German automakers are concerned about the impact of protectionist measures and possible retaliatory actions from China.