Western markets have been steadily ratcheting up restrictions on Chinese vehicles. Just a few days before I sat down with Lothar Schupet, the CEO of Zeekr Europe, at the Paris Auto, the ground had shifted again. European and Chinese officials announced a deal to cap Chinese hybrid and plug-in hybrid imports at 350,000 units a year.

For Schupet, it likely didn’t land as welcome news. Zeekr already pays significant tariffs when it brings in its popular EVs like the 7X. Right as the brand is launching its ambitious, 900-horsepower, ultra-luxury, plug-in-hybrid 9X, Continental regulators are throwing up guardrails. But it isn’t likely to scare Zeekr off, at least according to Schupet.

“The question [of the trade environment] is interesting depending on which order you take it," he said in an interview with InsideEVs. "Are these discussions and regulations coming because we are so successful, or do we have to deal with these things to get success? I think it's the first one, that everyone is a little bit scared about what is happening and trying to protect.”

(Full Disclosure: Geely, the parent company of Zeekr, flew me to the Paris Auto Show. The company provided hotel accommodations and some meals.)

This is a fair claim. European auto executives and even national politicians are increasingly alarmed at their industry’s inability to compete with Chinese products in terms of pricing, even despite high tariffs. And for economies that are already struggling with lethargic growth and demographic changes, giving up on such a high-value industry is not palatable.

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