Vauxhall owner Stellantis has warned of a coming “invasion” of cheap Chinese cars as it pressures its suppliers to cut costs to compete.

The firm, which also owns Peugeot, Fiat and Jeep, will also use its heft to demand lower prices from partners as it tries to bring down the cost of electric cars.

Chief executive Carlos Tavares, who has been outspoken before on the high cost of battery-powered cars and the risk they pose to the mass ownership of cars, said suppliers should prepare to comb over their businesses and cut costs as he has done.

He said Stellantis faces a “brutal scenario” where it must compete with Chinese-made cars which are a quarter less expensive while having to invest billions into electrification. Mr Tavares told a French radio station that China’s export ambitions amounted to an “invasion”.

Chinese carmakers are targeting European markets including the UK with predominantly electric cars, undercutting companies like Volkswagen and Stellantis.