China's SAIC denies reports of negotiations with EU on EVs, govt-backed media says

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's SAIC Motor, hit with the highest additional electric vehicle tariffs imposed by the European Union at 35.3%, has refuted reports about separate negotiations with the EU on the matter, the local government-backed Shanghai Observer reported on Thursday.

The reports "seriously deviate from the facts" and are purely rumours, the report said, citing a company statement.

The state-owned automaker said on Wednesday that it intends to file a lawsuit countering the EU's ruling on imported Chinese EVs.

Earlier in October, China warned the bloc against separate EV price negotiations.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; editing by Jason Neely)