European automakers pivot from competition to collaboration with Chinese EV companies

Summary

European automakers, once threatened by Chinese electric vehicle companies, are now seeking partnerships with them as a survival strategy. Nissan's Sunderland factory in northeast England, the UK's largest car plant, is running at half capacity (300,000 vehicles/year instead of 600,000), illustrating the financial strain on European manufacturers. The article explores how the European auto industry's attitude has shifted from viewing Chinese EV makers as competitors to potential saviours, driven by the need to fill idle factories, cut costs, and access EV technology and supply chains.