Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Anfac chief urges support for Europe’s car industry amid Chinese competition
Markus Haupt says Europe’s car industry is fighting back against growing competition from Chinese car brands.
Haupt leads Spain’s carmakers’ association, Anfac, and also heads Seat-Cupra.
European manufacturers have invested heavily in a new generation of electric cars, but Haupt says they need rules that let them compete on equal terms.
He supports European-made content requirements and wants Spain to attract more industrial investment, including from Chinese companies.
He wants electric-car support to continue and European carbon targets to be more flexible because buyers are switching to electric cars more slowly than expected.
Haupt says investment should cover more of vehicle production and suppliers, helping protect jobs and benefit Spain’s economy.
Anfac president Markus Haupt urged Europe to support its car industry as Chinese brands expand in the region.
Haupt said European manufacturers have responded to the competition with large investments in a new generation of electric cars.
He called for a regulatory framework that would allow European manufacturers to compete on fair terms.
Haupt backed Europe’s “made in Europe” approach and said Spain should attract more investment from Chinese companies.
He also called for more flexible European CO2 targets and continued support for electric vehicles.
- Who
- Markus Haupt, president of Spain’s Anfac and of Seat-Cupra.
- What
- He urged support for Europe’s car industry amid competition from Chinese brands.
- When
- The interview was published on 27 October 2026. Haupt was appointed Anfac president the previous June.
- Where
- Europe, with a focus on Spain’s role in attracting car-industry investment.
- Why
- Haupt said the industry needs fair competitive conditions and support as electric-car adoption is slower than expected.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Haupt was appointed president of Anfac.
Expansión published an interview with Haupt about Europe’s car industry and competition from Chinese brands.
- Anfac president
- Markus Haupt
- Other role
- President of Seat-Cupra
- Interview publication date
- 27 October 2026
- Spain’s car-production ranking
- Second in Europe and ninth worldwide
- European industry investment
- Hundreds of billions of euros in developing a new generation of electric cars
What people are saying
The European industry has not thrown in the towel, quite the contrary. It has reacted and is clear that the only way is a counteroffensive.
One of the priorities, without a doubt, has to be, together with the European Commission, to create that competitiveness framework that allows European manufacturers to be competitive.
If the customer does not respond at the speed we want, it is not fair for the car industry to end up paying fines for something we have tried.
It is our obligation to attract those investments.