One of the latest studies published by the consulting company Bloomberg underlines that, although they entered into force last Thursday, EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars and models of European brands manufactured in this country – which, remember, add to the initial tax of 10% up to 35.3% additional customs duties depending on the manufacturer – have already had an effect on sales of these cars in Europe for months.
Bloomberg bases this claim on sales data compiled by Dataforce, which tracks sales in EU countries but also in the United Kingdom.
Despite the introduction of customs tariffs, MG Spain has guaranteed the price of the new HS until December 31.
Electric car sales increase by 13% in Europe
According to the company, sales of electric cars in Europe would have increased by 13% last September to reach 212,631 units sold – a good figure considering that overall car sales fell by 4.4% – whilethe market share of Chinese electric cars sold on the Old Continent would only represent 8.5%.
A fact to keep in mind, especially if we take into account that the average share of Chinese electric car sales so far in 2024 is 9.6% of the market.
For months, prices have been scaring away potential European customers
But Dataforce highlights an even more important fact. The decline in sales of Chinese electric cars in Europe continues without interruption Since four months, that is to say since July.
And the date is no coincidence, since after the investigation opened by the EU into possible intervention by the Chinese government in favor of its automobile manufacturers,the European executive announced on July 5 the provisional application of these customs duties, Who , although Chinese brands did not pass them on to the prices of their vehicles, finally came into force on Wednesday October 30.
Manufactured in China but also in Germany, the Tesla Model Y is not affected by customs duties and remains at the top of electric car sales in Europe.
More precisely, the most affected brand is MG, owned by the SAIC group, which will be subject to maximum tariffs of 35.3%, which resulted in a fall of 28% of its sales volumes.
At the same time, the electric car sales in the EU and UK last September, according to Dataforce data, have been led by two Tesla models, the Model Y and the Model 3, followed by the Skoda Enyaq and the Volvo EX30.