The EU Commission is threatening to impose punitive tariffs on electric cars from China. A large proportion of the vehicles imported into Germany come from the country. This proportion has changed significantly recently.
China has further expanded its position as an important importer of electric cars in Germany despite overall weak demand. Although the number of pure electric cars imported from China fell by 15.7 percent to 31,500 vehicles between January and April, the country’s share of total German electric car imports rose to 40.9 percent during this period. This was announced by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden.
The EU Commission recently threatened to impose high, provisional punitive tariffs on electric cars from China. This could also affect German car manufacturers that produce in the country for export and thus also for the German market.
According to statisticians, the Chinese share of imports of pure electric cars has recently increased significantly. Of the total of 447,200 electric cars imported into Germany last year, 29.0 percent came from China. South Korea followed at a considerable distance with a share of 9.9 percent (44,200 electric cars) and the Czech Republic with 9.3 percent (41,600 electric cars). In 2022, China’s share was still 12.0 percent and in 2020 it was only 7.7 percent.
The EU Commission has been investigating since last autumn whether electric cars in China are benefiting from subsidies that distort competition. According to the Commission, Chinese electric cars are usually around 20 percent cheaper than models manufactured in the EU. According to the Commission, the value chain for battery-powered cars in China is benefiting from unfair subsidies. This threatens to damage manufacturers in the EU. It is still unclear whether the tariffs will actually be imposed. They depend on whether another solution can be found with China.
Source: Stern
