French intelligence services are investigating possible Chinese involvement in what Industry Minister Eric Besson described as a case of “economic warfare”: the leaking from car manufacturer Renault of technologies related to electric vehicles. France 24 has a video report while, in The Guardian:
A presidential source told Reuters the intelligence agents were “investigating a Chinese link” and the French government had warned of an “overall risk” to French industry. Renault is 15% owned by the French state ….
Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan have invested €4bn (£3.4bn [$5.2bn]) in developing electric vehicles. There are plans to put three models on sale this year, with a fourth next year ….
China’s output of ecological vehicles is expected to reach 1m units by 2020, according to a Beijing official. Vehicle emissions make up about 70% of air pollution in major Chinese cities ….
