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Brewery Stella Artois

Stella Artois is part of the world’s largest brewery concern, AB InBev, and is still firmly rooted in its home base of Leuven.

You can visit the brewery on Saturday and Sundays. Take part in the new interactive guided tour. Experience the brewery in action and enjoy a wonderful Stella Artois after your visit. In short, experience beer in its purest form.

Practical info

Individual visitors • classic tour.

• Saturdays: 13:00 NL • 15:00 & 17:00 EN
• Sundays: 13:00 & 15:00 EN
• Book your ticket in time because the places are limited

Groups • Private Classic Tour

• Only after reservation: Stella Artois

www.breweryvisits.com

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Experience how beer is brewed in and around Leuven

Blogs for beer lovers

Do you love to stay at charming B&Bs or would you prefer to spend the night in a well-known hotel chain? Leuven’s got them all. Book your stay here.

Stella Artois Brewery Tour in Leuven, Belgium

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For those who drink, an unmissable part of visiting Belgium is the chance to explore its beer culture . Aside from drinking copious amounts of different beers, another way is to go on a tour of one of the country’s breweries. While I had several different choices of breweries to visit, I decided to pick one of Belgium’s most prolific beers, Stella Artois .

There were plenty of things I was keen to see when visiting Leuven , but the Stella Artois Brewery was near the top. After all, Stella is one of the most internationally recognizable Belgian beers. What resulted was an especially informative and engaging brewery tour through a cultural landmark of the city of Leuven .

Table of Contents

Leuven’s Beer History

It’s fair to say that beer has had a major role in the history of Leuven. The city’s brewing legacy extends back far before Stella Artois, with evidence of breweries existing as early as 1366. Leuven owes its tradition of beer in part to its prosperous university and strong academic culture, like many cities with historic ties to brewing. Rather than associating this link with an academic understanding of the brewing process, most people tend to simply connect students and drinking!

The importance of Leuven’s brewing industry didn’t have an impact on just the city’s growth, but also it’s very landscape. Like in many Belgian cities , the Vaart canal was built to link Leuven with the neighbouring city of Mechelen. Since the building of the Vaart, the surrounding Vaartkom area has had strong ties with the city’s brewing culture.

One historical building of the Vaart that still has a place in modern Leuven is the De Lantaarn Cafe . The cafe arose as part of the boom around the Vaartkom in the 18th century, and after World War II became synonymous with the Stella Artois brand.

History of Stella Artois

Even though the name “Stella Artois” is globally well-known, it’s only been used for the last century of the this centuries old history. The origins of Stella Artois actually begin just along the Vaart from the modern Stella Artois brewery at the Brewery Den Hoorn . Established by 1366, Brewery Den Hoorn became a major Leuven institution, gradually becoming the biggest business in the city.

It wasn’t until 1708 that the Artois name came into play, when  Sebastien Artois became the brewery’s master brewer. He would actually buy the brewery in 1717, renaming it the Artois Brewery . The next big change to the brewery didn’t happen until 1928 and with it “Stella Artois”.

For the festive season, a special Christmas beer was brewed and given the name “Stella”. The success and the popularity of the seasonal beer was so immense that it soon became available year round and led to this name change. The original horn symbol can still be spotted as part of the Stella Artois emblem.

The Stella Brewery Tour

After walking up to the Stella Artois Brewery, I arrived at the visitor centre and was given a high-visibility vest and ushered upstairs. Once we’d been given an introduction and safety briefing, we were on our way and started the tour.

We were led into the brewery grounds proper and into a small theatre. It was here that we would learn about the history of Stella Artois and the brewing process. It was quite interesting to learn the role each of the ingredients played in the composition of the beer. This is despite the fact that this was not my first brewery tour, having visited the Pilsener Urquell Brewery in Pilsen, Czechia.

For those that don’t know the process of how beer is brewed, I’ll try to give you a brief overview. The four essential ingredients of beer are water, barley, hops and yeast, however Stella also interestingly adds maize. It is the origin of the water, barley, maize and hops, and the strain of yeast, that give each type of beer its unique taste.

The brewing process starts with the “ malting ” the barley, by heating, drying and cracking it. After that is the “ mashing ” stage, where the malted barley is soaked in hot water to release its sugars. The mash is then drained, leaving behind a sugary liquid known as “ mort “.

Next, the mort is boiled while the hops are gradually added, balancing out the sweet flavour of the mort. All of this is done in rows of immense, shiny kettles. The last step in the brewing process is fermentation, caused by adding the yeast to the strained and cooled mort.

While Stella Artois is brewed in other countries for the international markets, if you drink Stella in Europe, it was likely brewed here in Leuven. We were able to see the kettles, before moving on to the bottling plant. From a viewing platform above, you can look down into the automated bottling machines and watch the process take place. While Stella is brewed here, mostly other brands are actually bottled on site, including Leffe .

The end of the tour rightly finishes with the opportunity to do some tasting of freshly and meticulously poured Stella Artois on tap. There is actually a 9 step process required to ensure the perfect pour. They allow plenty of time for you to enjoy a drink or two, as well as take a look at the gift shop. Before returning to the visitors centre, they kindly handed out gift bags to everyone, including several drinks for you to try.

Brewery Tour Information

Tours of the Stella Artois Brewery are run Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm and last a bit under 2 hours. Entry costs 8.5€ (as of 2017), with information here . Note: the entrance is by the large car park and you should allow more time than you think to get there. I was one of many who were struggling to find the entrance as the clock ticked down to 3pm.

You can get to Leuven and the Stella Artois Brewery from other Belgian cities like Brussels by train . The brewery is roughly a 20 minute walk from Leuven’s train station.

Would you make time to take a tour of the Stella Artois Brewery on a visit to Leuven? Have you been on a brewery tour before? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

*Disclosure: I received free tickets from Visit Leuven for the Stella Artois Brewery Tour. As always, opinions are my own.

David is the author behind the Travelsewhere travel blog and is always on the search for the quieter, less-visited corners of the world.

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My husband would love this… lol…:)

Jealouuuus! We only drove by it! 🙁 We should have spent longer in Leuven than half a day!

Always been one of my favorite brews, can’t wait to go on this tour

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Beer museums, breweries and a hop farm in Belgium

“You can spend years drinking something different every night in Belgium,” says Patrick Nijs, a self-described beer enthusiast who's volunteering with PALM Breweries during its annual hop-picking festival, the Hoppluk, held on August 27. “You never have to drink the same thing twice.”

The sheer number of Belgian beers — near always excellent and with ancient, storied traditions — is staggering. So while food lovers may flock to the country for chocolate and waffles or mussels and frites, as Nijs states, a sudsy pilgrimage to Brussels and beyond offers unmatched diversity sure to please any beer lover.

The hop-picking event is held at the PALM Brewery in Steenhuffel, Belgium, a short ride outside of Brussels. The hops grown onsite are used in the Palm Hop Select beer, an easy-drinking IPA, and the PALM Hop Select Limited Edition Green Hopping, which is brewed just for the festival. Volunteers are invited back to the brewery in December to drink the efforts of their labors at a release party.

PALM is one of several big-name breweries easily accessible if Brussels is your starting point on a beercation. Other options nearby include the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven, which is a quick train ride, and Hoegaarden, an easy ride away in its eponymous village.

“Brewing tradition here goes back to the 15th century,” explains AB InBev brewery visits manager Tom Robberechts while strolling through the Hoegaarden brewery, which has always resided in this quaint village.

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Whether it's these internationally known breweries which lure you to the country, the ancient monasteries producing Trappist beers, or the emerging craft beer segment — yes, there are young, upstart breweries in Brussels, too. Check out Brussels Beer Project for starters — you'll drink well on the journey.

To visit PALM in Steenhuffel, take the 251 bus route from Brussels, which arrives right in front of the brewery. Sample the full lineup in the tasting room, where beers from sister brewery Rodenbach, 30 minutes south of Bruges, are also available. The Stella Artois brewery is open to the public, but not for walk-ins. Schedule in advance through the brewery or contact the Leuven tourism center for a weekend visit. Frequent trains from Brussels take 20 to 25 minutes to arrive in Leuven. Visits to Hoegaarden must be arranged privately and require additional transportation from Leuven to the village.

Browse the photos above for a sneak peek inside the breweries, plus other hop-heavy activities around Belgium.

Plus, see more destination beer makers below.

🛒 Winkelmandje

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Stella Artois Brewery

Beer fan? Enjoy a guided tour of this brewery and learn more about Leuven’s most famous beer. Of course, no visit is complete without a tasting!

Everyone under the sun knows that Belgium is THE country for beer. Belgians drink a whopping 68 litres of beer a year, and the country is home to 300+ breweries.

When it comes to beers, Leuven has an impressive record. The multinational brewing company AB InBev is the largest brewing company in the world and has their home right in Leuven. Ever heard of them? They produce Budweiser, Corona and Beck’s, among others. Still, there’s one beer Leuven is specifically known for: Stella Artois.

Leuven locals love their Stella. And it’s not just them! Locals and tourists alike can get all the deets about this beer on a guided tour (Available in English and Dutch).

• First-come, first-serve : you can buy your tickets online or get them at Leuven’s tourist office (Naamsestraat, 3). Make sure to reserve in advance!
• Small steps : a guided tour lasts about 2 hours and starts in a small room before you enter the actual factory. Here you’ll learn more about the history of the company (which was founded in the 1300s). Then, you’ll get to see how the beer is brewed and you’ll learn more about the manufacturing process. Finally, you’ll be shown how the beer is packaged in cans and bottles. On the tour, your guide will answer any beer-fuelled question you have.
• The best part : after you’ve learned the theory, it’s finally time to taste the practice. Some tour guides call this “heaven”: the brewery’s bar, where you’ll have the chance to try some of the most beloved beers in Belgium.

Tips and Tricks

• For extra safety and coolness, you’ll be given a reflective vest before you start the tour.
• A special gift: before leaving, you’ll get 3 small beer samples as a souvenir for your visit.
• Wanna buy an actual souvenir? There’s a very nice gift shop in the brewery.
• Make sure to ask your guide before taking pictures, as you may not be allowed to do so in some areas.

Getting there:

• By Car: on-site parking available
• By Bus: close to bus stop Leuven Vaartvest. Buses 333, 334, 335 and 630 stop here

Aarschotsesteenweg 20, 3000 Leuven

Sa - Su, 15:00 (tours in English); Tu - Sa, 9:00 - 21:00 (for large groups)

All Seasons

8,5€, Kids free. Special discount rates available

Brussels' Kitchen

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specialty coffee & pastries

91A chaussée de charleroi, 1060 Saint-Gilles instagram – 0456 70 51 98 every day from 7am to 6pm

Welcome to Stella. The place is small. A wall covered with Polaroid portraits of dogs, a counter filled with pastries, a few seats on the benches, and a handful of tables and chairs in green metal on the sidewalk for sunny days. Here, presumably, one either comes to soak up the sun, if lucky, or grab their coffee to go.

Discovered during a coffee tour, my first experience was not of a coffee, but of a rose water latte. And it has remained my favorite ever since. A latte made with oat milk and rose water – which, surprisingly, is miles away from the artificial side one might imagine. It’s light, it’s soft – comfort in a cardboard coffee cup. It has become my go-to on dreary, gray days, and beyond.

Stella, that’s the name of Bassel’s dog, the owner who arrived from Syria at 18. Six months later, he managed to have Stella join him in Belgium, safe and sound.

Stella, it’s a story that moves us, but above all, it’s an excellent specialty coffee, egg buns, and insane pastries, and a rose water latte – which, I can’t say it enough, has become my ultimate comforting drink.

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Belgian blog for food hotspots. Restaurants, wine bars, tea rooms, markets, organic eateries, etc in Brussels. Georgeous places for the eyes, amazing food for the taste, and new experiences just for pleasure. Culinary events & experiences. Charming hotels and rooms in Brussels.

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STELLAR WALKS (Brussels) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Stella terra and ggo visit dutch embassy in brussels.

Solar Team Eindhoven visited the residence of the Dutch ambassador in Brussels yesterday. Naturally, the Stella Terra - the world’s first off-road solar car - was brought along for the trip. To demonstrate, inspire and, of course, explore the streets of Brussels.

“We set up this event ourselves in cooperation with TU/e and the Dutch embassy,” says Bob van Ginkel, Technical Manager & PR at Solar Team Eindhoven . “With it, we hope to show the European Parliament all the possibilities and inspire them.”

By “all the possibilities”, Van Ginkel is referring to Stella Terra , Solar Team Eindhoven’s self-built off-road solar car. It is fully self-sufficient and the first of its kind capable of taking on adventures on both paved and unpaved roads. Yesterday, Solar Team Eindhoven made a special visit to the Dutch embassy in Brussels to show off their creation. “It’s very important that we, as an innovative student team at the forefront of the field, also engage and inspire policy makers at the European Parliament so that it will truly bring about change,” Van Ginkel explains.

This is not the first time that Solar Team Eindhoven has showcased a one of its creations here. “Two years ago, our camper Stella Vita also visited the residence,” Van Ginkel explains. “However, that event had a different focus, because there were other parties involved as well. This time, the event revolved entirely around Stella Terra.”

Not all about technology

In addition to Solar Team Eindhoven, the GO Green Office (GGO) was also present in Brussels to present their story. “At GGO, we see that the technofix is not the solution to everything; we also need societal change,” stressed Elano Franken, Strategic Manager at GGO. “That means we all have a really deep understanding of why sustainability is needed, why we need to change our own behavior.”

As sustainability ambassadors, the members of GGO are constantly working to spur this change within TU/e. Yesterday they talked about one of the ways they are trying to do this: with the Chair of the Future . A symbol to always keep one chair empty during every meeting. This chair represents the future and serves as a reminder to take sustainability into consideration when making decisions. “With the Chair of the Future, we’re now working with deans of different departments to map the current status of sustainability for each department, and then compare that to what we think should be the target,” Franken adds.

“Yes, I think so”, says Van Ginkel. “Everyone seemed to realize that ‘yes, this is where the future should be headed’. That a change needs to be brought about and that this is one of the ways that could be done.” Franken is also very positive. “We were truly able to deliver a ‘call to action,’ especially in the presence of the Executive Board. The fact that we got to join the Solar Team at such an event felt like a real tipping point,” he says. “It was great to have the balance between people working really hard on technical solutions, and us as sustainability ambassadors delving deeper into social matters.”

Tour de Brussels

In addition to all the serious talk, there was also time for some relaxation, fortunately. For example, a large part of Solar Team Eindhoven took Stella Terra for a tour of Brussels. “It was very special to drive our self-built solar car through the streets of Brussels. The off-road vehicle turned many heads,” says Van Ginkel enthusiastically.

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Stella Artois Brewery

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Stella Artois Brewery - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Brussels’ top 10 museums and attractions

16 February 2022

Are you coming to Brussels and need some inspiration for your visits? Join us to discover the capital's unmissable museums and attractions, thanks to our list of the most popular, in terms of visitor numbers. These sites have been a guarantee of quality since their creation. And, as always in Brussels, there is something for everyone: indoors and outdoors; history, heritage, science, art and culture; traditional and contemporary museums; typical Brussels locations and places of power, etc. You are bound to be won over! So let's go, Brussels can’t wait to show you what it's all about!

1. Art, art and more art at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts!

The most visited group of museums in Brussels, this cultural marvel’s reputation is well-established. The  Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium , or RMFAB, is made up of several locations covering countless periods and artistic movements and genres. Near place Royale, you can visit the Old Masters Museum  and the famous Magritte Museum . In Ixelles, discover the Wiertz and Meunier museums . They house works by great artists such as Memling, van der Weyden, Bosch, Bruegel, Rubens, David, Alechinsky, Delvaux, and many others, so don't miss them!

2. The emblematic Atomium

The undeniable symbol of Brussels and a national icon , you haven't really visited Brussels if you haven't seen the Atomium . This nine-sphered monument represents an elementary iron crystal magnified 165 billion times! But why did the designers choose an iron crystal? It was a nod to progress and research in the field of science, matter and nuclear energy - in its peaceful use of course. Built for the 1958 World Fair , the building was, like many other buildings, to be dismantled after the event! Inconceivable today...Between 2004 and 2006, the Atomium underwent a full restoration that returned it to its former glory. If you're in the area, it's worth waiting for nightfall: the Atomium is lit up with 2970 LED bulbs!

3. See all of Europe in 2 hours at Mini-Europe

Looking for some playfulness and fresh air, but also fancy stretching your legs? Then  Mini-Europe  is for you! Also on the Heysel plateau , just a stone's throw from the Atomium, you can walk along comfortable paths and discover the most beautiful buildings and sites in Europe, in miniature. Marvel at the miniature Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Vesuvius and the splendid Grand-Place in Brussels, which took countless hours of work to model! This site is particularly suitable for children , who can enjoy a variety of fun activities !

4. The dinosaurs of the Natural Sciences Museum

Are you curious by nature and love to learn? Then head to the museum attached to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences ! The many sections of its permanent exhibition –Dinosaur Gallery, Gallery of Evolution, Living Planet, Mineral Room, etc. – not to mention the variety of temporary and themed exhibitions, will satisfy your hunger for knowledge. The institution is housed in an imposing complex of buildings by Leopold Park, in the heart of the European Quarter . So, if you feel like it, you can also enjoy a breath of fresh air in this lovely and historic green space!

5. Understanding Europe and its parliament at the Parlamentarium

Understanding how the European Union works isn’t always easy... thankfully, at the  Parlamentarium , You can travel back through the history of the continent, take a seat in a theatre for a 360-degree panoramic view of Europe and its Parliament, hear testimonies from European citizens, and much more! The Parlamentarium is open 7 days a week and admission is free . Visitors can explore the exhibitions freely and in all 24 of the EU’s official languages ! There's no reason not to go!

6. The ninth art in all its glory at the Belgian Comic Strip Center

Did you know that Brussels is the capital of comic books ? The ninth art is a defining theme of the Belgian capital and has been for almost a century, with countless comic book authors coming from Brussels. Comics are omnipresent and can be found in the streets and alleys of numerous Brussels districts. So what better way to get to know Brussels' comic book heritage than a through a visit to the  Belgian Comic Strip Center , a museum entirely devoted to the subject, housed in a magnificent Art Nouveau building in the very centre of the city? Its regularly updated permanent exhibitions and extensive programme of temporary exhibitions invite you to discover the many facets of comics. Join Tintin and Co on an adventure!

7. The birth of Europe at the House of European History

A wonderful green setting in a particularly dense and urbanised area, the Leopold Park is home to some prestigious buildings - the Eggevoord Tower, Solvay Library and the former Georges Eastman Dental Institute, which now houses the  House of European History . As a space for learning, reflection and debate, the museum presents the history of Europe in a way that highlights to visitors the diversity of perspectives and interpretations. Like the Parlamentarium, the House of European History is open 7 days a week and admission is free .

8. An exhibition or concert at Bozar

As vast as it is unsuspected, this palace of fine arts occupies a building designed by one of Belgium's architectural masters: Victor Horta , the undisputed leader of the Art Nouveau style . It's a multidisciplinary space dedicated to the arts in the broadest sense: exhibitions, dance, concerts, cinema, etc. The  Centre for Fine Arts , known for some years now by its generic name Bozar , is renowned for its famous Henry Le Boeuf concert hall with remarkable acoustics, which hosts the final of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

9. The history of the Belgian railways at Train World

Opened in 2015 in the old Schaerbeek train station , which remains partially active, this veritable temple to the train boasts a breathtaking and contemporary scenography by François Schuiten . Dedicated to the history of the Belgian railways , the museum is housed in a group of buildings that combine old heritage and new construction. It presents historical vehicles, objects, photos, text and audiovisual archives, etc. Did you know that the history of the railways in Belgium goes back a very long way, it’s almost as old as Belgium itself! It’s time you paid  Train World  a visit, there’s so much to learn!

10. The Art and History Museum, for lovers of ancient civilisations and customs

An institution without which Cinquantenaire Park would be very different, the  Art and History Museum  is part of the larger Royal Museums of Art and History. The museum's collections are astonishingly diverse... At the Art & History Museum, you'll cross the continents from prehistory to the 20th century. Prehistoric flints, Egyptian mummies and other ancient artifacts, impressive medieval tapestries, Buddhas, a collection of Belgian Art Nouveau... come and marvel at this grandiose museum! The surrounding park also offers you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, and even to visit two more museums —  Autoworld  and the  Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History  - if you fancy it.

Practical information

Royal museums of fine arts of belgium.

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium assemble six different museums: the Oldmasters Museum, Modern Museum, Meunier Museum, Wiertz Museum, Magritte Museum and the Fin-de-Siècle Museum.

Halfway between sculpture and architecture, the Atomium was designed and built for the Brussels World's Fair (1958), for which it was the flagship building and emblem. Representing an iron unit cell (9 iron atoms) magnified 165 billion times, the monument with its unique silhouette has, over time, grown to become the symbol of Brussels and Belgium. On the inside the Atomium offers, not just the most beautiful view of Brussels, but also an entirely astounding and surreal ride through its interior spaces and volumes which alone makes a visit worth it. The Atomium ticket automatically includes the entrance to the Design Museum Brussels (150m away).

Mini-Europe

The whole of Europe animated in miniature! Be amazed! Mini-Europe is a park featuring all the wonders of Europe, in miniature. Bonsai trees, flowery groves and dwarf trees embellish the 350 monuments which have been reproduced at scale 1/25. Thousands of lifelike figurines and animations! Set off the eruption of the Vesuvius and admire the takeoff of the Ariane rocket. The two hour walk, which is both entertaining and educational, will let you (re)discover the 27 member states of the European Union and the United Kingdom, their historical, architectural and cultural wealth This establishment has been awarded the Brussels Health Safety Label

Institute of Natural Sciences

The Institute of Natural Sciences: a great day out, naturally! In the largest Dinosaur Gallery in Europe, you can meet the famous Bernissart Iguanodons, T.rex, Triceratops, Diplodocus, and 34 other species. But that’s not all! The Earth is swarming with life - rediscover it in the new Gallery, Living Planet, through an aesthetic, family-friendly and scientific approach to biodiversity. Learn about the human body and how we evolved in the Gallery of Humankind and go back in time in the Gallery of Evolution. You can also find out about urban species in BiodiverCITY, discover 250 years of the history of Natural Sciences through 14 iconic specimens, beware of the kings of the Cretaceous seas in the Mosasaur Hall or admire the magnificent crystals in the Mineral Hall. And last but not least, don't miss the temporary exhibitions and all the activities of the Educational Service: more information at www.naturalsciences.be.

Parlamentarium

Please note! The Parlamentarium will be closed on 24, 25 and 31 December 2023 and on 1 January 2024. Have you ever wondered how the European Union works and how it affects your daily life? The Parlamentarium has it covered! Thanks to its interactive tools like a 360° cinema, a role play game for students and a giant interactive floor map, you’ll learn everything there is to know about the European Parliament. Discover the path that led to today’s European Union and what Members of the European Parliament are doing to tackle Europe’s biggest challenges. * Free * Available in 24 languages * Book online : see practical information

Comic Strip Museum (Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée)

A world full of comics An accomplished attraction located in the heart of Brussels, the Comics Art Museum has been honouring the creators and heroes of the 9th Art for 30 years. The regularly renewed permanent exhibitions and a diversified programme of temporary exhibitions enable visitors to discover the countless aspects of comics art. Famous characters lead the way towards new adventures, an encounter with a world where creativity has no limits. Enhanced by an exceptional Art Nouveau home designed by Victor Horta, the Comics Art Museum is just as much a tribute to the pioneers as a glimpse of contemporary comics art.

House of European History

Get ready for a journey like no other! The permanent exhibition begins with the myth of the goddess Europa, exploring Europe’s ancient roots and the continent’s heritage of shared traditions, before Europe’s dramatic journey towards modernity in the 19th century and rebuilding process following World War II. A multimedia guide in 24 languages gives you new ways to interact with the exhibition, while special activities and Family Discovery Spaces allow children to grasp the story of Europe. Located next to the European Parliament in a striking Art Deco building in Parc Léopold, the House of European History is an essential part of any tour of the city. * Free * Available in 24 languages * Book online: See practical information

Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar

It’s impossible to talk about culture in Belgium without mentioning the Centre for Fine Arts located in Brussels. Whether it comes to exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, movies or projects concerning literature and architecture, BOZAR will always put originality and innovation first. They prove to keep a finger on the pulse with their varied and sophisticated programme. Besides emphasizing the importance of creation, quality and a rich artistic offering, BOZAR is especially concerned about the total experience of the visitors.

Train World

Train World is a unique railway experience that takes you from the very first steam locomotives to the flashing high-speed trains! It is a universe that appeals to all the senses in order to grasp the many different dimensions of the railways. A visit to Train World is an active and surprising outing. You can walk among locomotives, take a seat in 100-year-old trains, visit a railway house and walk across a real railway bridge. You will even experience how it feels to drive a train!

Art & History Museum (RMAH)

Embark on a fascinating journey through art and history! Come and stroll among the prehistoric flints and Egyptian mummies, walk between the ancient glasses and stand back to contemplate the impressive medieval tapestries. Immerse yourself in the oriental world as you pass Asian Buddhas and travel to the other side of the world to see a gigantic statue from Easter Island. You still have to admire the magnificent collection of Belgian Art Nouveau... The Art & History Museum is part of the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH) that also cover the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM), Halle Gate and the Museums of the Far East (currently closed for renovation).

10 must-visit Art Nouveau houses and mansions in Brussels

At the end of the 19 th  century, Victor Horta broke with the dominant, traditional architectural styles in Brussels, giving birth to the iconic Art Nouveau genre. Along the streets of our capital, numerous houses and mansions bear witness to the emergence and blossoming of this unprecedented style.

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ENTER TO WIN A GASTRONOMIC TRIP TO EUROPE WITH STELLA ARTOIS AND ST-HUBERT CONTEST RULES

ENTER TO WIN A GASTRONOMIC TRIP TO EUROPE WITH STELLA ARTOIS AND ST-HUBERT (the “ contest” )

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THESE OFFICIAL RULES (“ OFFICIAL RULES ”) BEFORE ENTERING THE “ENTER TO WIN A GASTRONOMIC TRIP TO EUROPE WITH STELLA ARTOIS AND ST-HUBERT” CONTEST (THE “ CONTEST ”). BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, EACH ENTRANT REPRESENTS THAT THEY MEET ALL OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS BELOW AND AGREES TO BE UNCONDITIONALLY BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND ALL DECISIONS OF LABATT BREWERIES LIMITED (THE “ CONTEST SPONSOR ”). BY ENTERING, THE ENTRANT SHALL NOT HOLD THE CONTEST SPONSOR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAPPEN DURING THE CONTEST.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. YOU MUST be of legal drinking age. THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO QUEBEC RESIDENTS ONLY .

CONTEST PERIOD

The “ENTER TO WIN A GASTRONOMIC TRIP TO EUROPE WITH STELLA ARTOIS AND ST-HUBERT” Contest (hereinafter the “ Contest ”) contest begins on or about March 1, 2024, at 7:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ends on April 6, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST (the “ Contest Closing Date ”), after which no further entries will be accepted (the “ Contest Period ”). The contest takes place in 110 participating St-Hubert establishments.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter the contest, the consumer (hereinafter the “ Consumer ”) must purchase a Stella Artois and one (1) dish selected from the menu of a participating St-Hubert establishment in order to receive a unique PIN code (the “ PIN Code ”). To enter the contest, the participant must have Internet access, a valid e-mail address at the time of entry. Each unique PIN Code may only be entered once. Visit www.shopbeergear.ca/St-Huberts-Stella-Euro-Food-Tour and follow the instructions to enter the unique PIN Code for a chance to win the prize (see PRIZE section below for details). Once you’ve entered the PIN code, you’ll be asked to fill out a contest entry form in its entirety, including the correct answer to the mathematical skill-testing question. Once all mandatory fields have been completed, click on the “Submit” button.

No limit of entries per person per day during the contest period. No other method of entry will be accepted. Any entrant attempting to enter with multiple accounts under multiple identities will be disqualified and will forfeit any prize won, at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsor. If the identity of an entrant is disputed, the authorized account holder of the email address provided at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant. The person assigned to the email address by an online service provider, Internet access provider or other organization responsible for assigning the email address for the domain associated with the submitted email address is considered the authorized account holder. An entrant may be required to provide the Contest Sponsor with proof that they are the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning Entry. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry for any reason whatsoever, at its sole discretion.

The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any inability of a potential entrant to successfully enter the Contest for any reason. The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, mutilated, garbled, illegible or incomplete entries. Proof of transmission (e.g., screenshots) does not constitute proof of receipt.

For no purchase entry, entries must be received by the Contest Closing Date. Entries received after the Contest Closing Date will not be eligible and will not be processed.

NO PURCHASE ENTRY

To receive a PIN code without making a purchase, the consumer must send an original, non-mechanically reproduced text of at least 300 words explaining why they would like to enter the “ ENTER TO WIN A GASTRONOMIC TRIP TO EUROPE WITH STELLA ARTOIS AND ST-HUBERT ” contest to the following address: 50 Labatt Avenue, LaSalle, Quebec H8R 3E7. The entrant must also indicate their name, their return mailing address, the statement “I am of legal drinking age in my province or territory of residence, and I am a legal resident of Canada.”, their date of birth, and their signature. Requests must be received in time for a PIN code to be mailed to you in order for you to participate before the Contest Closing Date. If all conditions of these rules are met, representatives of the Contest Sponsor will mail a PIN code. While supplies last. Consumers must visit www.shopbeergear.ca/St-Huberts-Stella-Euro-Food-Tour to enter their PIN code and participate. Each no purchase entry request must be sent separately and will be processed as a regular request. In the event that your entry proves to be a winning one, a member of our Customer Service Department will contact you to make arrangements to send you the prize. Limit one (1) no-purchase entry per person, per day and per postage-paid envelope.

ELIGIBILITY

The contest is open only to residents of Quebec who are of legal drinking age, who hold a valid passport for travel in Europe (Belgium and France) and the United States (if a stopover is required according to airline flight schedules), a valid credit card (for pre-authorization of hotel rooms and personal expenses) and who are not employees, officers, directors, contractors, agents or representatives of the Contest Sponsor, or their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, agencies, distribution companies, applicable provincial liquor authorities, participating liquor licensees, prize suppliers, the Contest judge or any person domiciled at the same address as any of the foregoing. Provincial liquor authorities are not connected with this Contest in any way and are not in any way responsible for any matter relating to this Contest.

One (1) entrant will be randomly selected by the Contest Sponsor or its designated representative in Montreal, Quebec on April 7, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (EST) from among the eligible entries received during the Contest Period (as defined above). Entries will be stored in a Contest database and will be randomly selected in accordance with these Official Rules (the Contest database and the site on which these Official Rules are posted by the Contest Sponsor are collectively referred to as the “ Contest Website ”). The potential winner will be selected in accordance with these Official Rules.

There is one (1) prize to be won among the one hundred and ten (110) participating St-Hubert locations. The prize consists of one (1) gastronomic trip for the winner and his/her guest to Belgium and France. Approximate retail value of the prize is $18,000 CAD. Labatt Breweries Limited is not responsible for the use or misuse of the prize once awarded. ALCOHOL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRIZE.

Odds of winning the prize depend on the total number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.

Prize must be accepted as awarded. The prize is non-transferable, non-exchangeable for cash and cannot be resold. No prize substitutions, except by the Contest Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute the prize or any portion thereof with a prize of equal or greater value. All decisions of the Contest Sponsor are final and not subject to appeal.

TRIP DETAILS :

The prize consists of one (1) seven (7) day trip to Belgium and France, including, for the winner and his/her guest, one (1) round-trip economy airfare from the Canadian international airport closest to the winner’s home to Brussels, Belgium and return airfare from Paris, France, six (6) nights’ hotel accommodation (double occupancy for three [3] nights in Brussels and three [3] nights in Paris at hotels selected by the Contest Sponsor), ground transportation (including private airport/hotel transfers upon arrival in Brussels and departure from Paris, as well as economy-class train transportation between Brussels and Paris), one (1) guided gastronomic tour of Brussels, one (1) private one-day tour of Leuven, Belgium, including a visit to the Stella Artois brewery and one (1) dinner at a location selected by the Contest Sponsor, one (1) guided gastronomic tour of Paris, one (1) two-hour pastry class in Paris (all tours selected by the Contest Sponsor), an allowance of $1,000 CAD in spending money (payable to the winner only in the form of a prepaid credit card or in the form of a bank transfer left to the discretion of the Contest Sponsor), one (1) Stella Artois apron, one (1) Stella Artois glass (which will be sent to the winner’s address), one (1) Stella Artois glass (which will be sent to the winner’s address), one (1) Stella Artois apron, one (1) Stella Artois glass (which will be sent to the winner’s address) staff services during the trip, taxes and gratuities on included services. Travel must take place between July 1, 2024, and June 1, 2025, subject to airline and hotel availability at time of booking. Itineraries and travel dates are subject to change and require the approval of the Contest Sponsor. The winner and his/her guest must be available to travel at all times on the dates approved by the Contest Sponsor. The winner and his/her guest must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid credit card to present at the hotel for security deposit and personal expenses. Travel documents including a valid Canadian passport for travel in Europe and the U.S. (if air itineraries transit the U.S.), insurance, food and beverages, communications, airline baggage fees, additional transportation, medical documents required at the time of travel (if applicable, for border crossings, all places visited, hotels and other suppliers), all items of a personal nature and other expenses not expressly included in the prize description above are the sole responsibility of the winner and his/her guest. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value at its discretion. Regional travel restrictions may apply. The Contest Sponsor will not be held responsible if travel is impeded or refused for reasons or decisions of government authorities (federal or provincial) or regional health authorities. Regional travel restrictions may apply.

AWARDING OF PRIZES

The selected entrant will be notified by the Contest Sponsor or its designated representative (the “ Representative ”) at the email address provided in the online entry form within 72 hours of the draw date (the “ Notice ”). The selected participant must respond to the Notice, after which he or she will be contacted by telephone or e-mail by the Contest Sponsor or its Representative to explain the details of the Prize and the next steps. If the selected participant has not responded to the Notice within 72 hours of receipt, another participant may, at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsor, be selected by random draw, in which case that participant will become the selected participant. The previously selected entrant will be disqualified and will not be entitled to any prizes. The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any failure by an entrant to receive the Notice for any reason or for failing to receive a response from a selected entrant.

Before being declared a winner, the selected entrant must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing question on the Entry form. The selected entrant must complete and sign the liability waiver form (the “ Waiver Form ”) that will be sent to the e-mail address provided in the Entry Form and must return it to the Contest Sponsor or its Representative within 72 hours of receipt; and must comply with these rules.

The Prize will only be awarded to the confirmed winner. If a potential winner (a) fails to correctly answer the mathematical skill question or incorrectly answers the mathematical skill question requiring skills, or lacks time to correctly answer the mathematical question requiring skills (b) fails to complete the Waiver Form correctly and return it by the due date, (c) fails to comply with these Rules (as determined by the Contest Sponsor in its sole discretion) d) cannot be contacted in accordance with these Rules for any reason and/or e) cannot accept the Prize for any reason, then he/she will be disqualified from the Contest (and must forfeit all rights to the Prize).

CONDITIONS AND DISCLAIMER

Before being declared a winner, the selected entrant must correctly answer, unaided, a mathematical skill-testing question indicated on the Entry Form. Before the Prize is awarded, the winner may be required to sign a Declaration of Compliance with the Official Rules and one or more release forms releasing the Contest Sponsor (including its directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives), its parent companies, subsidiaries, professional advisors, provincial liquor authorities and its advertising and promotional agencies (collectively, the “ Released Parties ”) from any and all liability arising out of, under or in connection with the operation of the Contest, including, without limitation, liability arising from the acceptance and use of the Prizes as awarded, the administration of the Contest and the selection of a potential winner. By entering the Contest or accepting a prize, the entrant agrees to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all causes of action, for any and all claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest, or in connection with the possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages related to personal injury, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

GENERAL STATEMENTS

The Prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, non-refundable, has no cash surrender value, cannot be resold, and must be accepted as awarded, without substitution. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute the Prize, or any portion thereof, with a prize or prizes of equal or greater value for any reason. The decisions of the Sponsor and/or Contest Administrator are final and without appeal and each entrant agrees to abide by all instructions and decisions of the Sponsor and/or Contest Administrator.

No communication will be entered into except with the selected entrant(s). All entries become the property of the Contest Sponsor. Any entry that is illegible, incomplete, altered or contains false information is invalid. The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions or any internet or telephone network or broadcast transmission during the Contest Period. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right to modify or terminate this Contest at any time without notice to entrants.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The Released Parties are not responsible for damages caused or claimed to be caused by: (i) any Entry, prize or other correspondence or data that is lost, stolen, late, garbled, delayed, damaged or misdirected for any reason; (ii) any failure, interruption, technical malfunction or delay (iii) any email, text message or other communication sent or received by the Contest Sponsor or any of its agents or delegates for any reason; (iv) any false, misdirected or inaccurate information, whether caused by the sites, users, or by equipment or programming errors associated with or utilized by the Contest (v) any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of one or more Contest entries; for problems with the operation of a website or website functionality, regardless of cause; (vi) malfunctions or damage to any telephone network or lines, computer equipment, data, software, online systems, servers, or access providers (vii) any lost functionality due to non-activation of cookies; (viii) traffic congestion on the Internet; (ix) the security or privacy of information transmitted over computer networks; (x) breaches of confidentiality due to interference by third-party “hackers” or for any damage caused or suffered by a participant or any other person as a result of any such event or occurrence; or (xi) technical, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions, including lost, misdirected or corrupted entries, damage caused by viruses, worms or Trojan Horses, or any other damage that may limit an entrant’s ability to participate in the Contest.

PIN codes obtained from unauthorized sources, or which are not original, or which are illegible, modified, reproduced, stolen, counterfeit, irregular or contain printing or other errors are void. The Contest Sponsor is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of the Contest, including but not limited to errors in advertising, the Official Rules, the selection and announcement of a winner, or the distribution of any prize. All decisions of the Contest Sponsor are final.

RIGHT TO TERMINATE, MODIFY OR SUSPEND THE CONTEST 

The Contest Sponsor may at any time, in its sole discretion and without liability, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest in whole or in part, subject only to any approvals required by law, if fraud, technical failures, errors in communications or otherwise or other causes beyond the control of the Contest Sponsor corrupt the administration, integrity or security of the Contest or if any other factor interferes with the conduct of the Contest as contemplated by these Contest Rules. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of early termination of the Contest, a notice to that effect will be published on the Contest Website. In addition, for the purposes of determining eligibility to win a prize in the event of early termination of the Contest, all eligible entries received prior to the time of early termination will be considered valid and, for the purposes of these Contest Rules, the Contest Period will be deemed to have ended at the time of early termination. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right at any time, in its sole discretion, to correct any errors, including but not limited to typographical, printing, computer programming or operator errors. No waiver by the Contest Sponsor of any term hereof shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of any other condition. 

INTERPRETATION

In the event of any dispute regarding the interpretation of these Official Rules, the decision or interpretation of the Contest Sponsor shall prevail. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

The Contest Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who (i) tampers with the entry process or the operation of the Contest; (ii) acts in violation of the Official Rules; or (iii) acts in a disloyal or disruptive manner, or with intent to hinder, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, or to post inappropriate or degrading material on the web page. WARNING: ANY DELIBERATE ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE OR ALTER ANY ENTRY OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS; IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE, THE CONTEST SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY SUCH ENTRANT OR INDIVIDUAL AND SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER RELIEF AGAINST SUCH ENTRANT OR INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

QUEBEC RESIDENTS: SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW AND THESE OFFICIAL RULES, ENTRANTS EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THE COURTS OF QUEBEC SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY DISPUTE OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CONTEST AND AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF QUEBEC. THE VENUE FOR ANY LITIGATION OR DISPUTE IS MONTREAL, QUEBEC.

The Contest Sponsor respects your right to privacy. Personal information collected from entrants will only be used by the Contest Sponsor to administer the Contest and fulfill the prize requirements and, only if consent is given at the time of entry, to provide entrants with information about upcoming promotions and/or events of the Contest Sponsor. For more information on how the Contest Sponsor collects, uses, and discloses personal information, please see the Contest Sponsor’s privacy policy, available at https://www.labattbrands.com/images/policy.pdf .

SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS

The Contest is subject to these complete Official Rules and all applicable federal, provincial and local laws and regulations. By entering the Contest, you acknowledge that you have read the Official Rules and agree to abide by their terms and the decisions of the Contest Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. All federal, provincial, and local laws and regulations apply. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES 

In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Official Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any contest-related materials, including, but not limited to, point-of-sale, television, print or online advertising, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail, govern, and control. The decision or interpretation of the Contest Sponsor shall prevail.

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China’s plan to sell cheap EVs to the rest of the world

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Edward White in Shanghai, Michael Pooler in São Paulo, A. Anantha Lakshmi in Jakarta and Christine Murray in Mexico City

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The resurrection of a car plant in Brazil’s poor north-east stands as a symbol of China’s global advance — and the west’s retreat.

BYD, the Shenzhen-based conglomerate, has taken over an old Ford factory in Camaçari, which was abandoned by the American automaker nearly a century after Henry Ford first set up operations in Brazil.

When Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, visited China last year, he met BYD’s billionaire founder and chair Wang Chuanfu. After that meeting, BYD picked the country for its first carmaking hub outside of Asia.

Under a $1bn-plus investment plan, BYD intends to start producing electric and hybrid automobiles this year at the site in Bahia state, which will also manufacture bus and truck chassis and process battery materials.

The new Brazil plant is no outlier — it falls into a wave of corporate Chinese investment in electric vehicle manufacturing supply chains in the world’s most important developing economies.

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The inadvertent result of rising protectionism in the US and Europe could be to drive many emerging markets into China’s hands.

Last month, Joe Biden issued a new broadside against Beijing’s deep financial support of Chinese industry as he unveiled sweeping new tariffs on a range of cleantech products — most notably, a 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles. “It’s not competition. It’s cheating. And we’ve seen the damage here in America,” Biden said.

The measures were partly aimed at boosting Biden’s chances in his presidential battle with Donald Trump. But the tariffs, paired with rising restrictions on Chinese investment on American soil, will have immense impact on the global auto market, in effect shutting China’s world-leading EV makers out of the world’s biggest economy.

The EU’s own anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric cars is expected to conclude next week as Brussels tries to protect European carmakers by stemming the flow of low-cost Chinese electric vehicles into the bloc.

Government officials, executives and experts say that the series of new cleantech tariffs issued by Washington and Brussels is forcing China’s leading players to sharpen their focus on markets in the rest of the world.

This, they argue, will lead to Chinese dominance across the world’s most important emerging markets, including south-east Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and the remaining western economies that are less protectionist than the US and Europe.

“That is the part that seems to be lost in this whole discussion of ‘can we raise some tariffs and slow down the Chinese advance’? That’s only defending your homeland. That’s leaving everything else open,” says Bill Russo, the former head of Chrysler in Asia and founder of Automobility, a Shanghai consultancy.

“Those markets are in play and China is aggressively going after those markets.”

The new Chinese investments are often two-pronged — both in car manufacturing and the raw materials that are central to the new economy.

Ilaria Mazzocco, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the west needs to understand that China’s global ambitions create an opportunity for many countries to expand their manufacturing base and to obtain foreign direct investment in “technologies of the future”.

China’s cleantech investments in the developing world, she says, “really complicates” foreign policy for western governments, which have already tried to warn about the risk of becoming dependent on Beijing through President Xi Jinping’s so-called Belt and Road infrastructure programme.

“It is tough to tell a country in the developing world, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t want to have more factories or refining because it’s Chinese investment’,” she says. “With the [Belt and Road Initiative] there was a credible argument that a lot of debt is not going to be sustainable . . . but here if they open factories, they hire local people, then in the minds of the leaders of these countries, ‘why not?’.”

The International Energy Agency forecasts that this year 10.1mn EVs will be sold in China, 3.4mn in Europe, 1.7mn in the US. Fewer than 1.5mn EVs will be sold everywhere else in the world.

Yet the agency has forecast that the global EV fleet will grow eight-fold to about 240mn in 2030. This implies annual global EV sales of 20mn cars in 2025 and 40mn in 2030, or 30 per cent of all car sales. Moreover, an increasingly large share of that expansion is likely to come from new markets.

In some important developing economies, Chinese companies are investing in both production and processing raw materials. Nowhere is this more striking than China’s involvement in the EV ecosystem in Indonesia, home to the world’s largest reserves of nickel, a key component of EV batteries.

Last year alone companies domiciled in China and Hong Kong invested $13.9bn in Indonesia, most of which is believed to have been in the metals and mining industry. Chinese companies account for more than 90 per cent of the nickel smelters in the country.

Chinese banks have also been keen to provide financing for nickel plants when others have been hesitant, says Alexander Barus, chief executive of the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park — the country’s largest nickel processing site, which was built by Tsingshan, a Chinese nickel producer, and a local partner. 

“When we first started searching for mining investment, we went around the banks in Indonesia, no one supported us. The banks were in doubt, whether it would be profitable or not. But when we went to Chinese banks, they were ready to finance,” says Barus. 

Having secured access to Indonesia’s key resources, Chinese companies have also been the first movers in setting up EV manufacturing plants, even as Indonesia — and President Joko Widodo personally — have courted other big names such as Tesla to set up EV manufacturing. BYD said early this year that it would invest $1.3bn in an EV factory in Indonesia.

The story is similar in Brazil where BYD and compatriot group Great Wall Motor are about to commence local manufacturing that could also serve for exports to the wider region. 

Great Wall is investing about $1.9bn in Latin America’s largest economy with production expected to start this year at a former Mercedes-Benz factory in Iracemápolis, São Paulo state.

As well as its investment in auto production at Camaçari, BYD is also on the lookout for lithium mining assets in Brazil , which is ramping up extraction of the key metal for EV batteries. 

Brazil, which is the world’s sixth-biggest car market, has been relatively slow to embrace electrification. This is attributed in part to its widespread use of lower-carbon ethanol derived from sugarcane . But there are already signs of a shift. Last year sales of EVs almost doubled in Brazil and in recent months the country overtook Belgium to become the largest single export destination for Chinese EVs.

In an effort to stimulate a homegrown industry, Brasília is imposing rising tariffs on EV and hybrid imports — these will hit 35 per cent by mid-2026. Lula, himself a former metal worker, has promulgated a vision of a “green” industrial rejuvenation.

China’s publicity drive in the region includes BYD’s sponsorship of the Copa América football tournament for South American nations. Such marketing campaigns, coupled with aggressive pricing by Chinese car brands, has led to acceptance by Brazilian consumers, says Cassio Pagliarini, chief marketing officer at Bright Consulting, an automotive sector specialist. 

In China, the expanding global push by EV makers is seen as part of the broader strategy under Xi of boosting political and economic ties with developing countries via his flagship Belt and Road Initiative.

Over recent years the value of China’s exports to emerging markets has overtaken that with developed economies, a historic change after decades of Chinese growth being more dependent on G7 economies.

“From the perspective of national strategy, there is no doubt that the focus of China’s future foreign economic strategy will shift towards developing countries,” Tu Xinquan, a professor and dean of China Institute for WTO Studies, at the University of International Business and Economics, told local media the day after Biden imposed new tariffs on Chinese EVs.

Yet the expansion of China’s auto industry into these new markets is threatening to eat into the strong market share held by several multinational automakers.

This is particularly worrying for Japanese companies which have built up a strong position in the south-east Asian market. “China can make a very compelling sales pitch to south-east Asian countries,” says a senior Japanese government official, highlighting Beijing’s ability to sell not just electric vehicles but also critical raw materials for batteries. “That’s the biggest risk for Japan.”

Another senior executive working with a Japanese carmaker was more direct: “We’re terrified that Chinese cars will flood into south-east Asian markets.”

Jens Eskelund, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, says China’s push to promote high-tech manufacturing has put its companies into direct competition with their European counterparts in many sectors in markets across the world, including autos. 

European businesses should not be “complacent about the situation”, he adds.

For some countries, the arrival of China’s EV industry is creating new tensions with a US administration, which does not want to cede influence to Beijing.

Over the past year, US officials have repeatedly warned that the Biden administration will take action if China tries to ease its industrial overcapacity problem by dumping goods on international markets.

One particular point of concern in Washington is Mexico, which has access to the US market through the USMCA, the trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico. Chinese companies, including BYD, have said they want to build factories in the country and several other rivals including MG and Chery have been talking to Mexican officials for more than a year.

Mexico’s government has been careful to not be seen to be courting China and has made clear in public statements its priority is the US relationship, including signing a memorandum of intent to start screening investments over the risk they pose to national security.

Leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has nationalised the country’s lithium supplies and cancelled a concession held by Chinese firm Ganfeng for an operating mine in the country’s north.

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president-elect after a landslide victory on Sunday, leaned heavily on Chinese companies for transportation projects when she was mayor of Mexico City, buying electric buses and contracting out the renovation of the city’s oldest subway line to Chinese firms.

Yet Sheinbaum, a leftwing former climate scientist, insisted during the election campaign that USMCA would remain “fundamental”.

Mexican consumers, however, are rapidly embracing cars from China. Last year, one in five cars sold was made in China, although half of those were produced by non-Chinese brands.

Guillermo Rosales, head of Mexican auto distributors association AMDA, says imports from China have led to a clogging of ports in the country’s Pacific coast such as Lázaro Cárdenas.

“With the arrival of Chinese cars, [consumers] have a greater supply and more options to choose from,” he says, adding that US concerns did not worry Mexican consumers. “It’s a very open market for competition.”

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In Australia, China’s global expansion is also leading to new questions about national security as new high-tech cars collect information from drivers and their surroundings.

A sharp increase in the number of Chinese-branded EVs on its roads — BYD’s sales were up sixfold last year — has sparked complaints over data and infrastructure security.

Australia was the first country to ban the use of Chinese telecoms vendors in its 5G networks in 2018 setting off a period of tension with China. The move to ban Huawei and ZTE was supported by Australia’s security services, which said that the use of “high-risk” vendors in the telecoms networks could have had implications for the security of data and infrastructure in the country including transportation.

Opposition senator James Paterson has argued that the potential risk posed by Chinese EVs went beyond the person buying and driving the car but to the community they live in given the amount of data that a vehicle can collect. “We’ve all seen the movies where electric cars can be weaponised,” he says.

Paterson wants the Australian government to instigate a national security review of Chinese EVs. “We didn’t allow those companies to become the backbone of our communications network. Why would we let them become the backbone of our transport network?”

Additional reporting by Nic Fildes in Sydney, Kana Inagaki and David Keohane in Tokyo, Ding Wenjie and Joe Leahy in Beijing

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