Handelsblatt: Chinese auto companies bypassed EU duties by using hybrids

The European Union is preparing new protective measures against the Chinese auto industry – this time plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) will come under attack. Brussels will introduce countervailing duties on Chinese plug-in hybrid cars in the coming weeks, German newspaper Handelsblatt reports, citing senior EU officials and industry sources.

The reason for the increase in the practice of increased tariffs is that Chinese companies have found a way to circumvent last year’s protective duties on electric vehicles. Instead of pure electric trains, they massively brought plug-in hybrids to Europe, which were not subject to the old duties. As a result, in 2026, registrations of BYD brand hybrids in Europe grew significantly more than sales of electric vehicles of the same brand. Chery has also shipped tens of thousands of plug-in hybrids to the region, while shipments of its pure electric vehicles remain modest.

This is an alarming signal for European manufacturers. They were just beginning to catch their breath after the introduction of tariffs on Chinese electric cars, hoping that their market position would strengthen. However, the Chinese quickly switched to the hybrid niche, and now the Europeans again have to ask Brussels for protection.

According to Handelsblatt, new measures could be announced in the coming weeks. The details of the duties have not yet been disclosed, but the logic is clear: to close the loophole through which Chinese hybrids poured into the European market.

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