Chinese EV makers awaken Western rivals' zombie production lines

Tactic for dodging tariffs and easing trade tensions could raise costs, compliance risks

A Stellantis automobile plant in Poissy, near Paris, on May 4: The automaker has tightened ties with Chinese partners Leapmotor and Dongfeng, in part to address underused European capacity. © Reuters

HONG KONG -- Chinese electric vehicle makers' aggressive overseas push coincides with Western auto groups' need to shed excess capacity, with idle gasoline car production lines across the world being repurposed into new EV factories.