What are the EU tariffs on Chinese EVs in 2026?
The EU's countervailing duty on Chinese-made EVs entered force in October 2024. Here's the current state in 2026.
The duty structure
Base: 10% EU import duty (applies to all cars).
Countervailing: 17.4% BYD, 21.3% Geely group, 38.1% SAIC, plus 21.3% for others.
Total: 27.4–48.1% depending on brand.
Exemption and adjustment routes
Brands producing in Europe (BYD Hungary, Leapmotor via Stellantis in Poland, Chery in Spain) sidestep the countervailing tariff on those units.
Some brands have negotiated price undertakings — MG, for instance, offers minimum-price commitments in exchange for reduced rates.
Impact on retail price
For a €30,000 factory-price Chinese EV: base 10% adds €3,000, countervailing 17.4% adds €5,220 — retail price rises ~€10,000 by the time VAT is added.
- 01Countervailing duty adds 17–38% on top of base 10%.
- 02European production sidesteps the countervailing rate.
- 03Retail prices reflect these duties fully.
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