**The Czech Republic has long been a major player in the automotive industry, and developments in this sector have a significant impact on the economy and employment. Therefore, according to Ivan Cinka, a member of the Transport Committee of the Central Bohemian Regional Assembly representing the STAČILO! coalition and former chairman of the committee for the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, it is necessary to realistically assess global trends in the automotive industry – and especially the role of China.**

In response to a question in an interview, Cinka openly states that **the Chinese automotive industry is now ahead of the European one in many areas.** "It is able to respond more flexibly to current challenges, including environmental ones. Therefore, cooperation with China should be in the European interest," he says. According to him, China should not only be seen as a competitor, but also as a partner from whom Europe can learn.

At the same time, he points out the problem of ideological prejudices that have negatively influenced the Czech Republic's approach to cooperation with Chinese companies in recent years. "Due to the political stances of the previous government, cooperation was not only unsupported but often directly suppressed. We hope that this approach will now change," says Cinka.

Indeed, **cooperation between Chinese and European automakers is already yielding concrete results.** He cites examples such as the Stellantis group's partnership with the Chinese company Leapmotor in the field of electric vehicles, the Renault-Geely alliance, the joint venture Chery and EV Motors in Barcelona, and the long-standing relationships between German automakers and Chinese partners. According to him, these projects bring not only investments but also technological exchange, which is essential for the European automotive industry.

**CMG**