VW may sell and even build Chinese cars in Europe — and its own CFO opposes the plan

Volkswagen is exploring a controversial plan to sell Chinese-developed models in Europe and potentially assemble them in German factories, a move its own chief financial officer opposes. The proposal, backed by CEO Oliver Blume, aims to fill idle German plants and avoid EU tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles.

A feasibility study is underway to assess importing complete cars from China or assembling them—or key components—in Europe, possibly at the Zwickau plant. The first candidate could be a new SUV arriving in 2027, riding on Volkswagen’s China Scalable Platform (CSP), a proprietary architecture not shared with SAIC.

The model is expected to slot between the Touareg and larger SUVs in size. Volkswagen has not confirmed the vehicle’s name or specifications.

Importing Chinese-built EVs into Europe triggers tariffs that vary by manufacturer: SAIC faces 35%, BYD 17%, and Tesla just under 8%, on top of standard EU import duties. The Cupra Tavascan, built in China, recently secured a tariff exemption by relying heavily on European technology, but similar exemptions are unlikely for other models.

Building these vehicles in Europe would sidestep tariffs and help utilize underused German factories. Employee representatives have indicated openness to evaluating additional China-developed models, provided they complement rather than replace existing commitments.

However, CFO Arno Antlitz has publicly criticized the idea, warning against building vehicles from “completely unrelated competitors in China” and then branding them with Volkswagen’s quality image. The plan remains exploratory and could still be abandoned.