"What is clear in my mind is that we are moving into a new phase of the Chinese brands' presence in Europe, which will evolve over the next 2 to 3 years. For China's automakers, this new phase will see many of them being global players."

From Hungary and Spain to the UK and Germany, Chinese auto manufacturers are rescuing European, Japanese and American car makers through new factories, production partnerships and acquisitions. The factories changing hands are more starving than shutting. Volkswagen will cut annual German production by 734,000 cars over the next four years. Ford and Nissan have trimmed output at plants in Cologne and Sunderland as fewer buyers want combustion models, and their electric models lose money.