EU caps Chinese hybrid car imports at 350,000 units
The EU and China agreed to limit imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles to 350,000 units annually. The cap is less than half of the EU Commission's estimate for this year's plug-in hybrid imports.
Following a joint letter from Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, the EU and China agreed to limit imports of Chinese hybrid vehicles to 350,000 units annually. This cap is less than half of the EU Commission's estimate that plug-in hybrid imports from China could reach 800,000 this year. The limit will increase by 6% annually and expire after four years. The measure aims to protect European manufacturers from high-volume, subsidized Chinese exports, particularly as Chinese firms establish production in Hungary and Spain. The hosts note this provides a 'breather' for the European auto industry but does not solve underlying structural weaknesses or the broader competitive pressure from China in sectors like machinery.