Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are actively acquiring idled European factories to expand their global presence. This move is driven by surging demand and is reshaping the international automotive industry.

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, from BYD to Leapmotor, are voraciously seeking out manufacturing assets in Europe as the global energy crisis creates surging demand for battery-powered vehicles. Their pursuit of idled European assembly facilities owned by big names like Stellantis and Volkswagen is disrupting the pecking order in the global automotive industry, as the Chinese carmakers’ design and manufacturing heft sees them morph into international players. “China’s EV assemblers are...