Companies Stellantis NV FollowMILAN, July 5 (Reuters) - The head of carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said Beijing's decision to restrict exports of two metals widely used in semiconductors and electric vehicles should not push Western companies to reduce their exposure to China. "It's not realistic nor it is in the interest of Western companies," Tavares said. However it does work with a number of Chinese companies, including ones using gallium and germanium for products the carmaker is buying from them, Tavares said. Its first application will be for new Peugeot 3008 SUV, whose production will start this year at Sochaux facility in France. With the STLA Medium "we're really entering the race," Tavares told reporters, underlining the company's ambition in electric cars.

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Persons: carmaker, Carlos Tavares, Tavares, Giulio Piovaccari, Gilles Guillaume, Keith Weir Organizations: Monday, European Union, Peugeot, Sochaux, Thomson Locations: China, France, Italy, Germany, North America