German car plants at half‑speed look to Beijing or battlefields for fresh funding

German carmakers assess China, defense tie-ups to revive idle sites

VW considers joint ventures with Chinese brands (BYD, MG, Chery; 9% EU market) and defense contractors to reuse underutilized plants. Signals geopolitical supply chain recalibration: European OEMs counter Chinese competition + militarization, reshaping global partnerships and regulatory risk.