Electric car imports from China rise sharply in Germany

Admin I Wednesday, June 18, 2024

 

BERLIN – China’s share of purely electric vehicle imports into Germany rose to 40.9% in the first four months of this year, even though the number of such imported vehicles fell by 15.7%, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported on Tuesday.

The European Commission last week warned that it was considering imposing punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in a move that could also hit German carmakers producing in China for the export market.

According to Destatis, imports of Chinese electric vehicles have been rising strongly, with 29.0% of the 447,200 units imported into Germany last year coming from China. Next was South Korea, well behind with 9.9%, or 44,200 units, followed by the Czech Republic with 9.3%, or 41,600 units.

China’s share in 2022 came in at 12.0% and in 2020 at 7.7%. The commission has been probing imports of Chinese electric cars since the autumn for state subsidies that distort competition in the bloc.

According to information from the commission, Chinese electric cars are around 20% cheaper than models manufactured in the European Union. It attributes the discrepancy to unfair state subsidies.

No final decision on tariffs has yet been taken as a solution is sought to the problem.