Latest news with #EU-Turkey
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
BYD to delay mass production at new Hungarian plant, make fewer EVs, sources say
KUALA LUMPUR: China's BYD will delay mass production at its new electric vehicle (EV) factory in Hungary until 2026 and will operate the plant below capacity for at least the first two years, two sources familiar with the matter said. At the same time, China's No. 1 automaker will begin producing cars earlier than expected at a new plant in Turkey, where labour costs are lower, and will significantly exceed its announced production plans, one of the sources said. Shifting production away from Hungary in favour of Turkey would be a setback for the European Union, which has hoped that its tariffs on EVs made in China would attract Chinese investment and high-paying manufacturing jobs. BYD's €4 billion (US$4.64 billion) plant in Szeged, southern Hungary, will start mass production in 2026 but will only produce a few tens of thousands of vehicles that year, the sources said. That would represent a fraction of the plant's initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles. It is eventually expected to reach a maximum capacity of 300,000 cars per year. A third source confirmed the slower 2026 start-up. BYD has stated it will launch operations at Szeged in October but has not provided a public timeline for mass production. Production is expected to increase in 2027 but still fall below planned capacity, the sources said. Meanwhile, the automaker's US$1 billion plant in Turkey, initially scheduled to begin production at the end of 2026 with a capacity of 150,000 cars annually, will outpace the Hungarian plant as early as next year, one of the sources said. Production at the plant in Manisa, western Turkey, will far exceed 150,000 cars in 2027, and BYD is set to further ramp up output in 2028, the source added. BYD did not respond to requests for comment. The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss BYD's production plans publicly. BYD is constructing the Hungarian plant to sell cars in Europe tariff-free. Currently, all BYD vehicles sold in Europe are manufactured in China and are subject to EU anti-subsidy tariffs in addition to the standard 10 per cent duty. For BYD, the total tariff stands at 27 per cent. Many of the cars produced at the Turkish facility will also be exported to Europe and will not face tariffs under the EU-Turkey customs union. A shift toward lower-cost production in Turkey highlights the challenge Chinese automakers face when trying to avoid punitive tariffs by producing in Europe, where wages and energy costs are relatively high. Under right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary — BYD's European headquarters — has become a key trade and investment partner for China. Turkey has long been a low-cost production base for major automakers such as Toyota, Stellantis, Ford, Hyundai and Renault. In March, Turkey announced that China's Chery would invest US$1 billion in a new plant with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles. Soaring demand BYD is aggressively expanding outside China, where it faces a fierce price war. Reuters reported last month that BYD had slowed its expansion domestically by reducing shifts at some factories and delaying the installation of new production lines. The change in production strategy coincides with BYD's restructuring of its European operations following missteps, including the failure to secure enough dealerships and hire executives with local-market expertise, as well as offering hybrids in markets that favour fully electric vehicles. Demand for BYD's competitively priced EVs is surging in Europe. S&P Global Mobility projects that BYD will sell 186,000 vehicles in Europe this year, up from 83,000 units in 2024, with sales expected to nearly double again to just under 400,000 units by 2029. BYD has also begun ramping up operations in Brazil, though the company is facing legal action there over alleged labour violations involving Chinese contractors working on its complex. In Hungary, BYD had planned to install production line equipment by September at the Szeged site, which was first announced in 2023, two sources said. However, in recent months it has delayed the tooling of the production line, which is being assembled at one of its manufacturing centres in China, the sources added. Plans for the Szeged plant may still evolve. Over the past year, executives have discussed producing various models there, including the Atto 2, Atto 3 and Dolphin. One source told Reuters that BYD plans to manufacture the popular Atto 3 and Dolphin EVs, along with the upcoming low-cost Seagull model at the site. Another source said the plant will produce the Atto 2, Atto 3 and Dolphin. In Turkey, one source noted that BYD will manufacture the fully-electric Seal U SUV, the Sealion 5 (with uncertainty over whether it will be the fully-electric or plug-in hybrid variant), as well as two plug-in hybrid models: the Seal U DMi and the Seal 06 Dm-i.
24-06-2025
- Politics
EU help in healing Cyprus' ethnic split could bring benefits to all, officials say
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The European Union can help resolve Cyprus' decades-old ethnic division by underscoring to all sides in the dispute that a peace accord would bring with benefits and a significant improvement in relations with the 27-member bloc, officials said Tuesday. Johannes Hahn, the EU envoy for Cyprus, held his first meeting Tuesday with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in his new capacity, which officials hope will build momentum toward reviving stalled negotiations led by the United Nations. Cyprus was cleaved along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup that aimed to unify the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a 1983 Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island's northern third where Turkey maintains more than 35,000 troops. Hahn said after the discussion with Christodoulides Tuesday that he would reach out to all stakeholders, including Turkey, to help build confidence and support for Maria Angela Holguin, who is heading up peace efforts as the envoy to Cyprus representing U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Asked how the EU could help bridge what appear to be diametrically opposed positions held by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, Hahn said 'all parties have particular interests related to the European Union and this is exactly what I try to figure out in all my meetings.' Although Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, only the southern Greek Cypriot part where the internationally recognized government is seated enjoys full membership benefits. Turkey began EU membership talks in 2005, but those have stalled over its refusal to recognize the Cypriot government as the island's sole legal authority. Turkey remains keen to conclude visa liberalization talks with the EU that began in 2013. Cyprus backs closer EU-Turkey ties as long as there is clear progress on Cyprus peace talks, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. The primary obstacle to restarting peace talks is Turkish and Turkish Cypriot insistence on a deal that would recognize two states on the island. This goes against a peace blueprint endorsed by the the U.N. Security Council that foresees a federated Cyprus with Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking zones. Greek Cypriots reject any agreement that would formalize partition, fearing Turkey would seek to control the entire island in light of its demand to maintain a permanent troop presence and military intervention rights in Cyprus. Turkey also insists the minority Turkish Cypriots should have veto rights over all federal government decisions.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
EU help in healing Cyprus' ethnic split could bring benefits to all, officials say
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The European Union can help resolve Cyprus' decades-old ethnic division by underscoring to all sides in the dispute that a peace accord would bring with benefits and a significant improvement in relations with the 27-member bloc, officials said Tuesday. Johannes Hahn, the EU envoy for Cyprus, held his first meeting Tuesday with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in his new capacity, which officials hope will build momentum toward reviving stalled negotiations led by the United Nations. Cyprus was cleaved along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup that aimed to unify the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a 1983 Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island's northern third where Turkey maintains more than 35,000 troops. Hahn said after the discussion with Christodoulides Tuesday that he would reach out to all stakeholders, including Turkey, to help build confidence and support for Maria Angela Holguin, who is heading up peace efforts as the envoy to Cyprus representing U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Asked how the EU could help bridge what appear to be diametrically opposed positions held by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, Hahn said 'all parties have particular interests related to the European Union and this is exactly what I try to figure out in all my meetings.' Although Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, only the southern Greek Cypriot part where the internationally recognized government is seated enjoys full membership benefits. Turkey began EU membership talks in 2005, but those have stalled over its refusal to recognize the Cypriot government as the island's sole legal authority. Turkey remains keen to conclude visa liberalization talks with the EU that began in 2013. Cyprus backs closer EU-Turkey ties as long as there is clear progress on Cyprus peace talks, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. The primary obstacle to restarting peace talks is Turkish and Turkish Cypriot insistence on a deal that would recognize two states on the island. This goes against a peace blueprint endorsed by the the U.N. Security Council that foresees a federated Cyprus with Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking zones. Greek Cypriots reject any agreement that would formalize partition, fearing Turkey would seek to control the entire island in light of its demand to maintain a permanent troop presence and military intervention rights in Cyprus. Turkey also insists the minority Turkish Cypriots should have veto rights over all federal government decisions.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
EU help in healing Cyprus' ethnic split could bring benefits to all, officials say
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The European Union can help resolve Cyprus' decades-old ethnic division by underscoring to all sides in the dispute that a peace accord would bring with benefits and a significant improvement in relations with the 27-member bloc, officials said Tuesday. Johannes Hahn, the EU envoy for Cyprus, held his first meeting Tuesday with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in his new capacity, which officials hope will build momentum toward reviving stalled negotiations led by the United Nations. Cyprus was cleaved along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup that aimed to unify the island with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a 1983 Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island's northern third where Turkey maintains more than 35,000 troops. Hahn said after the discussion with Christodoulides Tuesday that he would reach out to all stakeholders, including Turkey, to help build confidence and support for Maria Angela Holguin, who is heading up peace efforts as the envoy to Cyprus representing U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Asked how the EU could help bridge what appear to be diametrically opposed positions held by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides, Hahn said 'all parties have particular interests related to the European Union and this is exactly what I try to figure out in all my meetings.' Although Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, only the southern Greek Cypriot part where the internationally recognized government is seated enjoys full membership benefits. Turkey began EU membership talks in 2005, but those have stalled over its refusal to recognize the Cypriot government as the island's sole legal authority. Turkey remains keen to conclude visa liberalization talks with the EU that began in 2013. Cyprus backs closer EU-Turkey ties as long as there is clear progress on Cyprus peace talks, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said. The primary obstacle to restarting peace talks is Turkish and Turkish Cypriot insistence on a deal that would recognize two states on the island. This goes against a peace blueprint endorsed by the the U.N. Security Council that foresees a federated Cyprus with Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking zones. Greek Cypriots reject any agreement that would formalize partition, fearing Turkey would seek to control the entire island in light of its demand to maintain a permanent troop presence and military intervention rights in Cyprus. Turkey also insists the minority Turkish Cypriots should have veto rights over all federal government decisions.
Ya Biladi
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Pascal Blanchard : «Today, we're inventing countries of departure, destination, and waiting»
مدة القراءة: 3' How do you assess the evolution of migration policy in Africa, particularly in Morocco? Are African countries still under European influence, or are they asserting their own vision more strongly? That's a broad question. To put it simply: for a long time, migration policies were shaped solely from the perspective of destination countries—namely, the West. Migration flows were either restricted, organized, or redirected. But the world has changed. We are no longer in the era of empires. Countries of origin, or transit countries, have started to be integrated into migration policies. We're no longer working only with immediate countries of origin, but also with those on the periphery. And what does this periphery offer? It allows for the anticipation of departures, the blocking of arrivals, or the «storage» of migrants. Migration has become a diplomatic issue. The link between migration and development has been explored, and we've started thinking in terms of larger geographic zones. It became clear that migration is not linear. People don't leave point A to go directly to point B, they often pass through five or six countries. «South-South» migration often precedes «South-North» migration. And all of this means that countries previously on the margins of migration policy, like Morocco, are now becoming central. We see the same dynamic in Southeast Asia, along China's borders, or between Papua New Guinea and Australia. The world is changing. Today, we can map migration across three categories: destination countries, origin countries, and intermediary countries. This is a new reality and it's the future. Morocco finds itself between two worlds. It is no longer just a country of departure, which it still is, nor merely a country of destination, which it is increasingly becoming, although that perception is not yet widespread. It is also a key transit country, a mediator between North and South. Is migration becoming a political issue in its own right? It already is. We're witnessing the commodification of migration flow management. There's a transactional relationship between wealthy and poorer countries, and that relationship generates potential financial gain. Look at Libya, or the EU-Turkey agreement, it's massive. The same applies to Tunisia and Italy, or the UK's plan to send migrants to Rwanda. They were talking about more than €110,000 per migrant! So yes, there is a migration economy. It has long existed informally, through smugglers, in the Sahara, the Mediterranean, the English Channel. But today, this economy is being institutionalized. States and major international organizations are taking hold of it. And it's not stopping anytime soon. The model of «peripheral camps» is becoming entrenched. It was tested on the Rohingya, on Syrian refugees. Tomorrow, it will apply to climate migrants. We will pay Southern countries to host 2, 3, even 10 million people. It will be outsourced migrant management. And this model isn't limited to poor countries. There's a logic: yes, a migrant costs money, but yes, a migrant also generates revenue. It's harsh to say, but it's reality. And we prefer for it to happen far from home. And that instinct isn't uniquely European, Moroccans also prefer that it doesn't happen in their own country. In light of these changes, where do you think we're headed? Toward an institutionalized outsourcing model, a fully assumed political economy of migration, and the multiplication of buffer zones. We are entering a new logic where migration becomes a diplomatic lever, even a tool of geopolitical pressure. We saw it with Turkey and Europe. We see it with Morocco and Spain. With Tunisia and Italy. With Libya, despite its instability. Countries acting as intermediaries are becoming indispensable players. They negotiate, bargain, resist, or cooperate. It's no coincidence that the African Union chose Rabat as the headquarters of its Migration Observatory. Morocco is not an isolated case, but rather an emblematic example of these global shifts.
