Can a 'petty' dinner stop Chinese automakers?

By GanTian

(ECNS) —At the 2026 Paris International Motor Show, Chinese automakers set a new record for participation, demonstrating unprecedented scale, strength, maturity and confidence. Yet a scene outside the venue gave observers pause for thought.

Some media reported that around the time of the motor show, the Élysée Palace hosted a high-level dinner but, in a petty gesture, shut out the Chinese automakers who had come from afar. Such a scene seems at odds with the image of France as a nation which prides itself on its romantic spirit and openness to the world.

The contradictory attitude of some European politicians toward China's auto industry is self-evident. Commenting on the issue, Li Yuqi, Research Associate at the Institute of Regional and Country Studies at Renmin University of China, said that in recent years European politicians have frequently made an issue of the China-EU trade deficit, and a series of remarks and actions steeped in zero-sum thinking seriously deviate from international trade rules.

Li noted that history has repeatedly proven that on matters of principle, pressuring China is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot. Only by abandoning the obsession with unilateralism, facing up to its own industrial competitiveness problems and returning to the track of rational and pragmatic cooperation can the EU work with China to foster 　growth and prosperity in a world full of uncertainty. 

Will European consumers buy it if Chinese companies are shut out?

At this year's Paris Motor Show, 16 Chinese automakers brought 25 brands, accounting for about 40 percent of all auto brands exhibited and roughly equal to the total number of European brands. Multiple new Chinese models made their European debuts, with concentrated displays of innovations in power batteries, ultra-fast charging, intelligent driving and artificial intelligence.

However, two "petty manoeuvres" exposed by the French side during the motor show are far removed from the "great-power ambition" it claims for itself.

On the eve of the show's opening, the Élysée Palace hosted a high-level dinner that gathered about 60 European automotive industry companies but explicitly kept Chinese companies "outside the door," to widespread astonishment. The French presidential palace specifically noted that "no Chinese exhibitors attended this dinner."

During the show, Macron also made a point of visiting booths representing French automakers, once again stressing "Europe first" and setting three priorities for the auto industry: electrification, "Europe first," and innovation and technological sovereignty.

Macron said France would soon reach an agreement with Germany to defend the "European content" of cars and enhance the competitiveness of European companies.

Some European media reports even pointed the finger directly at China, claiming that Macron's move was intended to "placate European manufacturers and respond to Chinese competition."

But what European consumers ultimately value are products, prices and services. Europe's struggle to remain competitive in the global industrial arena is clearly not something that a dinner, a few statements, or a crude attempt to shift the blame onto China can resolve.

"Pressuring China is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot"

As this year's Paris Motor Show takes place, the international trade environment is complex and volatile, with economic and trade frictions occurring from time to time. From electric vehicle trade to market access and export controls, China-EU economic and trade relations likewise face frictions and challenges.

Li noted that in recent years European politicians have frequently made an issue of the China-EU trade deficit, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen even exaggerating it as a €1 billion imbalance per day.

In Li's view, this EU narrative clearly simplifies the division of labor in complex value chains into a single total trade figure—essentially a deliberate "selective blindness."

Li analyzed that the EU's crude attribution of the so-called "deficit" to purported "Chinese industrial subsidies" and "unfair competition" does not hold up either academically or legally. "Instead of reflecting on why its own industries have lost competitiveness, the EU shifts responsibility onto its trading partners—this is the most typical 'blame-shifting' logic in contemporary international trade."

In essence, China-EU economic and trade relations should be mutually beneficial and win-win rather than a zero-sum game. Li Yuqi said, "The two sides share deep and converging common interests in a wide range of areas, including green transition, the digital economy and global supply chain stability."

A set of figures speaks directly to the closeness of China-EU economic and trade ties:

In 2025, total China-EU trade reached $828.11 billion. China is the EU's fourth-largest export market and largest source of imports, while the EU is China's second-largest export market and second-largest source of imports.

At the same time, Chinese automakers are accelerating the pace of building factories in Europe. The enthusiasm for Chinese cars at this year's Paris Motor Show is a vivid reflection of the Chinese auto industry winning favor in the international market.

In 2025, China's automobile production and sales both exceeded 34 million units, ranking first globally for 17 consecutive years. In 2026, China's automobile exports are expected to surpass 10 million units.

Since September 2023, Chinese automakers have announced 10 localized production projects in Europe. Among them, BYD is investing in its first new energy passenger vehicle production base in Szeged, Hungary. SAIC Motor will also build an electric vehicle plant in Galicia, Spain, marking its first such facility in Europe.

What Europe needs to do, therefore, is engage in open and candid dialogue with China and promote upward balance and forward development of trade between the two sides.

Notably, the second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism was held in Beijing from October 8 to 9. In the closely watched automotive trade sector, the two sides reached an understanding on hybrid vehicle trade in a manner consistent with WTO rules.

Of course, one round of consultations does not mean all problems are resolved. Whether consensus can be translated into practical results and whether outcomes can be implemented remains the key to follow-up work.

"History has repeatedly proven that on matters of principle, pressuring China is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot," Li Yuqi noted. "Only by abandoning the obsession with unilateralism, facing up to its own industrial competitiveness problems and returning to the track of rational and pragmatic cooperation can the EU work with China to create growth and prosperity in a world full of uncertainty."