The transition to emissions-free mobility has been driven by three factors: in the US, the extraordinary story of Tesla; in the EU and the UK, regulatory reform aligned with the Paris Agreement; and in China, a strategic push by an authoritarian state.

The US has essentially shut its market to China’s electric vehicles (EVs) with a 100% tariff, but for the Europeans the issue is complicated. Last week, Volkswagen said it was considering closing factories in Germany, and BMW Group issued a profit warning. Along with Mercedes-Benz, these vehicle makers are reliant on sales in China just as the trade spat threatens to escalate...

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