Alarm bells sound in Brussels as EU sales of Chinese hybrid cars rocket
Sales of Chinese hybrid vehicles in the EU have surged dramatically since 2022, with plug-in hybrid imports rising to over 217,000 units in the first seven months of 2026. This explosive growth, which bypasses existing electric vehicle tariffs, has prompted Brussels to demand voluntary export reductions from China to protect European carmakers. The situation has intensified trade tensions, with EU and Chinese officials scheduled to meet in October to negotiate a potential truce amid a widening trade deficit.
- ▪Chinese-made plug-in hybrid vehicle sales in the EU increased from 56,706 in 2022 to 217,764 in the first seven months of 2026.
- ▪Hybrid cars now account for nearly 37% of the overall EU market, while electric vehicles make up just over 21%.
- ▪Chinese manufacturers BYD, Chery, and Leapmotor have achieved triple-digit growth, with BYD and Geely now outperforming Tesla in EU sales.
- ▪The European Commission has asked China to voluntarily reduce hybrid exports or face safeguard measures such as quotas.
- ▪EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and his Chinese counterpart are set to meet on October 8 and 9 to discuss trade issues.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/24/eu-sales-chinese-hybrid-cars-rocket |
| Publication time | Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:34:46 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-24T08:45:14.655Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-24T08:45:14.655Z |
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Chinese made BYD passenger battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles await distribution at the docks. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAView image in fullscreenChinese made BYD passenger battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles await distribution at the docks. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAAutomotive industryAlarm bells sound in Brussels as EU sales of Chinese hybrid cars rocketExplosive 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 Business news – live updates Lisa O’CarrollThu 24 Sep 2026 04.34 EDTLast modified on Thu 24 Sep 2026 04.36 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleSales of Chinese hybrid cars have rocketed in the EU in the past…
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