MUNICH, May 22 (Reuters) - Stellantis ( STLA ) expects

a major battle with Chinese rivals in the European market for

electric vehicles and expects significant social consequences as

a result, the group's Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said on

Wednesday.

"We are not talking about a Darwinian period, we are in it,"

Tavares said at the Reuters Events Automotive Europe conference,

adding the price battle with Asian rivals would be "very tough".