European automotive markets are witnessing a significant surge in the import of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) from China. Data from industry specialist Dataforce, reported by the “Handelsblatt”, indicates that brands including BYD, MG and Lynk & Co collectively sold nearly 33,000 PHEVs within the European Union during the first half of 2025. This represents a 364 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The overall rise is even more pronounced when incorporating other hybrid models.
Industry analysts attribute this trend to the EU’s imposition of tariffs – up to 45 percent – on Chinese-produced electric vehicles, which came into effect in October 2024. Charles Lester, an analyst with London-based e-mobility specialist Rho Motion, explained that “many Chinese manufacturers have adjusted their distribution strategies, increasingly focusing on models not subject to additional tariffs.
The development is prompting calls within Brussels to extend the existing tariff regulations to encompass PHEVs. Michael Bloss, a Member of the European Parliament for the Green Party, argued that “to protect our manufacturers, tariffs must also apply to plug-in hybrids. Otherwise, Europe will undermine its own industrial policy.
A spokesperson for the European Commission stated that the body remains open to further discussions with Beijing regarding existing tariff rates, but did not offer specific commentary on the potential application of tariffs to PHEVs.
