Stellantis and Renault chiefs pair a UK place in Made in Europe rules with a call to limit Chinese imports
Stellantis's Emanuele Cappellano and Renault's François Provost say the UK should count as one of the EU's 27 members under Made in Europe rules. London has so far rejected its own tariffs on Chinese cars, and Jonathan Reynolds said this month the decision is under review.
The Board Room · Leadership desk
The EU will limit hybrid cars from China to 350,000 a year from December; China's share in Europe is 6% (unconfirmed), which the EU expects the quota to halve, to about 3% (unconfirmed); proposals let carmakers source 30% of materials outside the EU.
| Figure | Value | Note | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU limit on hybrid cars imported from China | 350,000 cars a year | 18 | |
| China's share in Europe now | 6% | unconfirmed | 20 |
| Share left by halving a 6% share, about | 3% | unconfirmed | 21 |
| Materials carmakers may source outside EU, proposed | 30% | proposals Cappellano pointed to | 16 |
What happened
- Under the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act, cars must be made in Europe with enough European content to keep qualifying for EV grants and public purchase, and the details are still being haggled.
- The lobby groups ACEA and Clepa back UK inclusion, while some parts of European industry, including France's industry minister, argued the UK should be left out given Brexit.
- Provost said there was "no other choice" but a UK-EU deal, and that the UK would also have to stop allowing Chinese cars in without limits.
- The EU confirmed a cap of 350,000 Chinese hybrid cars a year, to take effect in December.
- Cappellano doubts that Japan, Turkey and Morocco need to be included, pointing to proposals that let carmakers source 30% of materials from outside the EU.
Why it matters
- What it limits constraint Treatment as an EU member narrows London's options on Chinese imports, because the chiefs see an open market and a protected industrial base as incompatible.
- Who's exposed exposure If Brussels keeps an EU-only definition, UK-built cars risk failing the made-in-Europe test for EU EV grants and public purchase.
- Who has to decide decision The UK tariff review now has two audiences, since its outcome will be read in Paris and Brussels as a reply to the carmakers' condition while the definition of European is still under negotiation.
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Cappellano, who leads Stellantis's European brands [2], rested his case on presence in the market: "We have a lot of relationship, we have footprint. Historically UK has been very close to the European market." [10] His fix for the legislation was blunt. "I think that UK somehow needs to be equalised to the EU 27," he said [4].
The Brexit objection, which France's industry minister was among those to raise [14], is the one Provost's remarks seem built to answer. In our view his reply is framed as policy. Joining the European ecosystem, Provost said, means having "an industrial ambition" [6].
He was careful about how he put the condition. "I'm not here to demand whatsoever, but I think if UK is willing to join this ecosystem of IAA, there is some open question about the level of imports," he said [7]. The condition he describes is local investment. The industry "is not closed to Chinese competitors", he said, but those who want to operate in Europe "have to deeply invest in the whole value chain" [9]. Neither executive named a level or an instrument for UK limits, and the report gives no date for settling the definition.
Cappellano was less hedged on the choice facing London. "It's very difficult to defend industrial footprint and at the same time let the market completely open to import. Either one or the other," he said [8]. The two chiefs back the lobby groups on inclusion [1] and add the import condition themselves.
The pressure behind the remarks was visible on the show floor, where Li Auto, GAC and Chery exhibited with ambitious European expansion plans [19]. The EU expects its December quota on Chinese hybrids to halve China's market share, now 6% [20]. That would leave about 3% [21].
Cappellano's own package has a second side. He asked for more time, until 2030, for manufacturers to source batteries from within Europe [17].
What to watch
- Whether Reynolds's review of Chinese car tariffs ends in UK tariffs or in an open market.
- Whether Brussels' final definition of European admits the UK, and whether it adopts the 30% outside-EU sourcing allowance.
- Whether Chinese brands answer the December hybrid quota with the European value-chain investment Provost described.
Clarity's read
What the record supports and how the coverage leans. The claims behind it follow.
Reality
- Evidence55
- Adoption
- Not scored
- Hype gap+8
- Incentives65
- Confidence58
Claim ledger
Ranked by verification strength, evidence, and original report placement.
- [1]
Stellantis and Renault backed the UK car industry for inclusion in the proposed EU rules to protect European industry, but urged the British government to consider limiting imports of Chinese cars.
- [2]
Emanuele Cappellano leads Stellantis's European brands, including Fiat, Citroen, Opel and Vauxhall; Francois Provost is chief executive of Renault.
- [3]
Cappellano and Provost said the UK should effectively be counted as one of the EU's 27 member states for the purposes of the proposed Made in Europe legislation, speaking at the Paris motor show.
- [4]
Cappellano said: "I think that UK somehow needs to be equalised to the EU 27."
- [5]
Provost said there was "no other choice" but a deal between the UK and EU, and that the UK would also have to stop allowing Chinese cars in without limits.
- [6]
Provost said that if the UK is willing to join the European ecosystem, this means having "an industrial ambition" to keep a strong automotive industry.
- [7]
Provost said: "I'm not here to demand whatsoever, but I think if UK is willing to join this ecosystem of IAA, there is some open question about the level of imports."
- [8]
Cappellano said: "It's very difficult to defend industrial footprint and at the same time let the market completely open to import. Either one or the other."
- [9]
Provost said the industry "is not closed to Chinese competitors" but that those who want to operate in Europe "have to deeply invest in the whole value chain".
- [10]
Cappellano said: "We have a lot of relationship, we have footprint. Historically UK has been very close to the European market."
- [11]
Under the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), cars must be made in Europe and contain enough European parts and materials to keep qualifying for EV grants and to be bought by public bodies in the EU; carmakers and politicians are haggling over the details.
- [12]
If Brussels sticks to a strict definition of European as only EU countries, Britain risks being left out, prompting intense lobbying from the UK car industry and government to be included.
- [13]
Stellantis still has a British factory, at Ellesmere Port in Merseyside, which produces small vans.
- [14]
European lobby groups ACEA and Clepa have put their weight behind including the UK, while some parts of European manufacturing, including France's industry minister, had argued the UK should be left out given Brexit.
- [15]
London has so far rejected pressure to impose its own tariffs on Chinese imports, but UK business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said this month that the decision was under review.
- [16]
Cappellano expressed scepticism over including other countries such as Japan, Turkey and Morocco, pointing to proposals that carmakers be allowed to source 30% of their materials from outside the EU.
- [17]
Cappellano argued for more time, until 2030, for manufacturers to source batteries from within Europe.
- [18]
The EU confirmed on Monday it would limit the number of hybrid electric vehicles imported from China to 350,000 cars a year, with the quota coming into force in December.
- [19]
Li Auto, GAC and Chery were among Chinese manufacturers exhibiting at the Paris motor show with ambitious European expansion plans.
- [20]
The EU expects the hybrid quota to halve China's market share in Europe, which now stands at 6%.
- [21]
Halving a 6% market share leaves about 3%.
Sources
2 independent publishers whose own reporting we read for this story.
- mezha.netStellantis і Renault підтримали включення Великої Британії до планів ЄС із захисту автомобільної промисловості
1 article · October 12, 2026
- theguardian.comStellantis and Renault back UK to get EU car industry protection
1 article · October 12, 2026
Topics and entities
Topics
- European auto industry
- UK–EU trade relations
- Chinese car imports in Europe
- EU Made in Europe rules
Entities
- Stellantis
- Renault
- François Provost
- Jonathan Reynolds
- European Automobile Manufacturers' Association
- Industrial Accelerator Act
- Emanuele Cappellano