BERLIN — A special advisor for Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is calling Volkswagen’s reported plans for sweeping cutbacks a major turning point for the European automotive sector, as Chinese automakers work to grow their foothold on the continent.
Speaking at the Reuters Automotive Europe conference in Frankfurt on Wednesday, Alfredo Altavilla, BYD’s special advisor for the European market, said the situation at Volkswagen signals something bigger is at play.
“It’s the first real wake-up call for the European industry,” Altavilla said during the conference.
Altavilla also raised questions about whether German manufacturing locations can remain competitive, as BYD actively seeks to expand its production operations in Europe through what is known as a brownfield investment — meaning it would take over or redevelop an existing industrial site rather than building from scratch. He noted that Spain and France are both under consideration for the new facility, and that a final decision is coming soon.
