According to the commission, Chinese electric cars are normally around 20% cheaper than models built in the EU. U.S. car manufacturer Tesla, which operates manufacturing facilities in China, has already applied for such an individual rate. If the EU tariffs are imposed, and stay in place for four months, they would then become definitive and would be in force for five years. In contrast to German opposition, French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken in favor of punitive measures on China's exports of electric vehicles. In an interview with The Economist in May he said it was unacceptable for European car producers to be at a disadvantage compared to Chinese companies due to EU state aid rules and different tariffs. French car brands have a much smaller market share in China and as a result, Macron's position is viewed as an attempt to protect French car manufacturers such as Peugeot and Renault.