Slovakia-China partnership grows from diplomacy to EV showrooms

Chinese electric vehicles are gaining ground in Slovakia as the country's president, Peter Pellegrini, visits Beijing for his first state visit since taking office.

Trade and investment top the agenda – and the auto sector sits at the center of the relationship.

The shift is visible inside a family-owned dealership in Bratislava.

For nearly 35 years, Auto Impex sold gasoline and diesel vehicles from Japanese and Italian brands. Today, Chinese-made BYD vehicles fill its showroom, making it Slovakia's first official BYD dealership.

CEO Peter Hron said public interest was immediate.

"People heard about the vibe around BYD and about the Chinese car industry," Hron said. "So when we opened, we had just a pop up store and one of the shopping centers that translated to 100 to 280 people just coming in to check out the cars daily."

That curiosity has turned into sales: "We're selling 50 to 70 cars in this showroom per month, it's huge."

Hron said buyers are drawn by competitive prices, technology and equipment as Chinese automakers expand across Europe and compete with established manufacturers.

He also said the company sees long-term potential.

"If the partner is Germany, it's fine. If the partner is China, it's fine," he said. "It really depends on who gives you the opportunity. And at this point, China is bringing much more opportunities for the businesses to the table."

Broader economic relationship

The trend reflects a broader economic relationship. China is Slovakia's largest trading partner outside the European Union. Two-way trade exceeds $11.9 billion a year. Trade is driven by vehicles, batteries, electronics and machinery. 

Chinese investment also includes the $1.3 billion Gotion-InoBat battery plant, a project expected to strengthen Slovakia's role in Europe's electric vehicle supply chain.

Former Slovak State Secretary Martin Klus said cooperation with China's auto industry is important for the country's future.

"Slovakia is one of the most important car manufacturers in the world – if it comes to the number of inhabitants and cars produced in Slovakia, it's actually the biggest one," he said. "This is why it's very important for us to start a new era of cooperation with the Chinese automotive industry."

Klus also said Slovakia must balance those opportunities with its commitments as a member of the European Union.

The issue is part of Pellegrini's three-day visit to China.

During talks in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted clean energy, the digital economy, robotics and artificial intelligence as key areas for future cooperation.

Klus said stronger ties should extend beyond trade.

"We need more cooperation in research development. We need more cooperation between our universities. We need more people-to-people contact, not only about business," he said. "So I hope this visit will also bring new development of the cooperation between China and Slovakia."

For Slovakia, one of Europe's leading car producers, the outcome of the visit could influence future investment and its role in Europe's electric vehicle industry.