How do EU tariffs on Chinese EVs work in 2026?
The EU Commission's Definitive Regulation (Reg 2024/2754) came into force October 2024 and applies for five years. Here's how it changes the landed price of Chinese EVs into the EU.
The rates in effect
- Standard EU import tariff on any BEV: 10.0%
- + BYD counter-vailing: 17.0% (total 27.0%)
- + Geely / Zeekr / Volvo: 18.8% (total 28.8%)
- + SAIC / MG: 35.3% (total 45.3%)
- + Tesla China: 7.8% (total 17.8%)
- + Other cooperating: 20.7% (total 30.7%)
- + Non-cooperating: 35.3% (total 45.3%)
What this means for landed price
A BYD Seal that costs €28,000 FOB Shanghai now costs ~€35,560 landed at Zeebrugge (before VAT and dealer margin). Retail moved from €40,990 (Q3 2024) to €44,990 (Q1 2025) and has since stabilised.
SAIC has been hit hardest — the MG4's competitive gap has narrowed materially.
The workaround: local assembly
OEMs assembling in Europe pay 0% counter-vailing duty. BYD Szeged (Hungary) opens Q4 2026; Chery Barcelona 2026; Leapmotor via Stellantis Tychy (Poland) already active. Expect substantial price cuts on EU-assembled variants.
- 01Tariffs added 17–35% to Chinese EV cost of goods in the EU.
- 02Impact on retail typically 6–12% after margin absorption.
- 03Locally assembled variants avoid the duty entirely.
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