The head of French auto supplier association Fiev warned on Wednesday that the sector was at risk of losing half of its jobs in the coming years, citing falling car sales volumes, a slowdown in the electric vehicle market and competition from China, Reuters reported.

“Given the activity (…) losing once more half of the jobs, unfortunately, would not seem exaggerated over the next five years, it could happen very, very quickly,” Jean-Louis Pech, president of the Federation of Vehicle Equipment Industries, reportedly told a press conference.