Chinese electric cars will reduce UK emissions but what about rivals here?

China is on course to overtake Tesla as the world's biggest producer of electric vehicles this year .

Many of the new car companies, including Byd , started off as battery manufacturers.

China has already overtaken Germany for overall global car exports, and will overtake Japan this year , according to Moody's Analytics .

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they had not forgotten how the solar industry was affected by China 's "unfair trade practices" The Chinese government hit back, calling the investigation "a naked protectionist act" The EU is looking at restricting Chinese electric vehicle sales, whereas the UK could inadvertently be subsidising them.