A recent commentary published on the website of the Swiss newspaper *Neue Zürcher Zeitung* (NZZ) notes that Chinese manufacturers have surpassed their European and American competitors in the electric vehicle (EV) sector; efforts by the West to shield domestic auto industries through tariffs ultimately harm consumer interests. A summary of the article follows:

Europe and the United States view themselves as the cradle of the automotive industry, yet China has now become the world's largest producer and exporter of automobiles.

To protect their domestic auto industries, the EU and the US have imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs. However, the trend of Chinese cars entering the European market is unstoppable. For European automotive giants, import tariffs can, at best, buy them some time to cope with increasingly fierce competition.

A better approach would be to allow consumers to choose freely, rather than using tariffs to compel them to buy cars from domestic manufacturers. If vehicles from BYD or SAIC’s MG brand offer the best value for money, that reality should be accepted.

Future consumer demand for cars is unlikely to reach the peak levels seen in the past, and the automotive industry is in urgent need of consolidation. Western attempts to protect domestic industries through tariffs will only backfire, forcing automakers to face even more painful adjustments down the line.