U.S. Advisor Accuses BYD of "Pirate-Style Growth"; Volvo CEO Counters, Praising Chinese EV Makers' Strength

Peter Navarro, Senior Advisor for Trade and Manufacturing at the White House, recently published an article in Politico Europe criticizing BYD as emblematic of China’s “pirate-style development model,” which he characterized by five key traits: reliance on imitation, government policy support, aggressive capacity expansion, predatory pricing, and market monopolization. He urged the European Union, Canada, and others to raise trade barriers to protect their domestic automakers. In response, Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars, addressed Navarro’s remarks following Volvo’s second-quarter earnings call, calling them a severe exaggeration detached from industry realities. Samuelsson noted that the global auto industry is entering a new competitive cycle and stressed the importance of objectively recognizing Chinese automakers’ achievements in the new energy vehicle sector. He explained that BYD and Geely Holding have succeeded internationally thanks to their vertically integrated full-value-chain capabilities in batteries and intelligent vehicle software, along with mature business strategies and deep technological expertise. Despite intense domestic competition, both companies possess the enduring strength to maintain long-term leadership and effectively compete with established premium automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.