Macron at Paris Motor Show as China and EU drive closer to trade war

The Paris Auto Show has begun in France, with the latest models from global carmakers being showcased. It's the first major car show in Europe since the EU approved imposing tariffs on China-made electric vehicles.

One of the Chinese carmakers demonstrating its latest models here says it is exploring the manufacture of EVs in Europe to avoid the taxes approved by Brussels, with other Chinese car companies also considering local production.

GAC said it would work with European partners to get through what it described as a "difficult situation."

The French president attended the opening of the show on Monday. Emmanuel Macron sided with Italy and Ireland among others in the debate over EV tariffs, arguing in favor of the new duties, having previously said that China's levels of subsidies were "unbearable."

During his walk through the exhibition, Macron got behind the wheel of a new Peugeot car. The Elysee Palace said the French president wanted to take an opportunity to show support for the French auto sector, in particular for innovation and production.

Macron was also filmed visiting Chinese EV maker Xpeng's stand. He spoke to Brian Gu, Xpeng vice chairman as the company launched its Xpeng P7+ vehicle. 

However, on the morning of the opening of the show, France's two biggest unions, the CFDT and the CGT, along with Greenpeace and other climate-action NGOs, released a joint statement in which they called for "reorienting as quickly as possible" French automobile production "towards small, accessible and job-creating electric vehicles".

They said recent strategies by automobile manufacturers have been "alarming," with "more than 100,000 jobs" lost in the sector. During his visit, President Macron said he wanted to see France focus on industrialization and job creation.

Aside from the politics, there are lots of models making their debut at the show, from the latest electric vehicles from Audi and Skoda, two new Minis by BMW, and the B10 from Chinese auto manufacturer Leapmotor.

Domestic interest was focused on Citroen's new C4 and the C5 Aircross – while Renault unveiled no fewer than 10 new cars.

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