The Prime Minister of Lower Saxony calls for tariffs on hybrid cars from China
Image: BYD
The Prime Minister of Lower Saxony is calling for the introduction of import tariffs on hybrid cars from China. SPD politician Olaf Lies described the current situation to NDR as a “regulatory gap,” since tariffs have so far only been imposed on pure electric vehicles. As early as July, he sent a letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (both from CDU), and Deputy Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (SPD).
In the view of the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, who also sits on Volkswagen’s supervisory board, Chinese manufacturers have been using the EU internal market for two years to drive established companies out of the market through competitive pressure. Without timely tariff measures, there is a risk of destroying structures that could never be rebuilt again.
The European Union has been imposing tariffs on imported electric vehicles produced in China since late 2024. A previous anti-subsidy investigation by the EU Commission found that electric cars from the People’s Republic enjoy a price advantage due to government support, distorting the market.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume also warned recently in an interview published by the company about the challenges posed by Chinese manufacturers. “They are aggressively expanding into Europe and quickly gaining market share,” said the executive. The People’s Republic has massive overcapacity and is expected to export more than ten million vehicles this year.
The prices of Chinese manufacturers are not competitive with European costs, Blume explained — especially since hybrid vehicles can enter Germany without tariffs. In the second quarter, one in three plug-in hybrids sold in Europe came from Chinese manufacturers.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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