Dongfeng, a Chinese state-owned company, plans to build a large electric car assembly factory in Fredrikstad, Norway, according to NRK.
Dongfeng has signed an intention agreement to establish the plant in the proposed Viken Park industrial area. The plan is to ship car parts from China and assemble the vehicles in Norway.
The agreement could lead to production of more than 100,000 electric cars per year, or about 300 cars per day, and would create at least 300 jobs and potentially up to 2,000 jobs, managing director of GG-gruppen, Carl Haakon Garder told NRK.
NATO as neighbours
Dongfeng intends to use Borg Havn in Fredrikstad for imports and exports. Borg Havn is also used by NATO forces for military equipment during exercises.
The Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) raised concerns about security risks, as modern vehicles collect data. “We cannot rule out that Chinese companies provide information to Chinese authorities,” Lars Steinar Bjørkavåg, NSM section chief said.
NSM also warned that dependency on services or products from one country could create vulnerabilities, especially without security cooperation but has not wished to comment on the specific use of Borg Havn by Chinese interests.
