The Volkswagen Group is expressing strong opposition to the European Union's potential implementation of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), joining forces with other major automakers like Mercedes and BMW in this plea.

The European Union is bracing for retaliation from China after the bloc voted last week to impose tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles, or EVs, amid speculation that Beijing could seek to target individual European countries that voted for the measures.

Ten EU member countries voted in favor of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles while five opposed them. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, voted against the tariff hikes, raising concerns about potential trade retaliation.