Europe Tried To Block Chinese Cars But Ended Up Helping Them Instead | Carscoops
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China’s carmakers are exploiting an EU loophole, shifting to hybrids and ICE models while delaying plans for European factories

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/54787361

This year, sales of Chinese-made cars across the EU, UK, and EFTA are expected to exceed 700,000. This is up significantly from the 408,000 that were sold in 2024.

Rather than dampen demand, the tariffs have simply redirected it. While the added fees specifically target EVs and extended-range electric vehicles, hybrid and internal combustion engine (ICE) models remain subject only to the base 10 percent tariff.

Whereas EVs accounted for 44 percent of Chinese car sales in Europe from January-October 2024, this share has dropped to 34 percent in 2025.