Alarm bells sound in Brussels as EU sales of Chinese hybrid cars rocket

Explosive growth in imported vehicles omitted from EV tariffs fuels concern for future of European carmakers

EU imports three times more from China than bloc exports there

Sales of Chinese hybrid cars have rocketed in the EU in the past four and a half years, data shows, underlining growing concerns in Brussels over the future of the European car industry.

In 2022, just 659 Chinese-made fully hybrid cars (vehicles in which the petrol or diesel engine charge the motor and battery) were sold in the EU. However, after Brussels imposed anti-subsidy tariffs on fully electric cars from China in 2024, sales of hybrids have shot up to 160,662 in the first seven months of this year.

Eurostat figures show that sales of Chinese-made plug-in hybrid vehicles – models popular for longer driving distances that can recharge via both the fuel engine and an external power source – have also soared, rising from 56,706 sold in 2022 to 217,764 from January to July this year.