TURIN, Sept 12 (Askume) – China’s Dongfeng Motor Group (0489.HK) needs to assess sales prospects in Europe before deciding whether to open a factory there, a senior executive said on Thursday.
Dongfeng International Commercial General Manager Ma Lei spoke at a product event in Turin, Italy, where the government is working to persuade Chinese automakers to produce in the country.
Roma said it was in talks with Chinese companies including Dongfeng Motor and Chery Automobile . Sources said in August that talks with Dongfeng executives over a car plant in Italy were in the final stages.
Asked if Dongfeng has inspected potential sites in the country, Ma Lei said it was “still too early to make a preliminary decision.”
“Many people ask us about the situation in European factories, but we first have to assess the whole situation, including from the customer’s point of view,” he said.
“As a first step, we need to focus on brand (development) and distribution,” he said.
Dongfeng recently started selling cars in Europe.
Italy is in talks with Chinese companies to attract Stellantis (STLAM.MI), the parent company of Fiat, another major carmaker, to the country in a bid to revive domestic car production .
The Italian government is studying possible sites for Chinese car plants, including the northwestern Piedmont region, whose capital is Turin, the historic home of the Fiat brand.
