By Mathias de Rozario
(Reuters) – Trade tensions between China and the West have put a dampener on carmakers’ investment decisions and longer-term outlooks, creating a level of uncertainty in the industry, the CEO of digital mapping specialist TomTom said on Friday.
The European Union is pressing ahead with hefty tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, set to be imposed from next month, while the Biden administration in September locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on EVs.
“I think some of our biggest customers are struggling to find their foot and decide on the longer-term planning in this volatile environment,” TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn told Reuters.
TomTom, a location data pioneer that counts Stellantis, Renault and Volkswagen among its clients, develops high-definition self-driving maps that integrate consumer data and advanced driver assistance systems.
“We have a good position in China as well…
