Acson Environment Technology news: In the first two months of this year, China's exports of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to the EU have surged, while these vehicles are currently not subject to additional tariffs. By contrast, due to increased trade barriers since last year, the export of battery electric passenger vehicles (BEVs) has slowed down. Analysts point out that if the export of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles continues to rise, it is not impossible that these vehicles could also face tariff sanctions in the future.

Latest customs data shows that China's electric vehicle exports to the EU fell to 50,383 units in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year decline of about one-third. This downward trend aligns with the overall slowdown in exports after the EU raised tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles to 45% in October last year.

In contrast, China's exports of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to the EU surged by 892% during the same period, reaching 25,903 units. In terms of export value, China's exports of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to the EU grew by 561% year-on-year, reaching $501.6 million, accounting for nearly half of China's electric vehicle exports to the region. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have become one of the fastest-growing product categories in China's exports to the 27 EU countries.

In the first two months of this year, China's global exports of plug-in hybrid vehicles exceeded 92,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 191.66%, with an export value reaching 1.91 billion USD, a year-on-year growth of 91.44%. Among these, the EU market contributed over a quarter of the export value.

At the same time, China's passenger electric vehicle exports fell by 25% to 184,825 units, with export value decreasing by 24% to nearly $3.9 billion. Industry insiders analyze that the decline in electric vehicle exports is partly attributed to the gradual reduction of government subsidies, as well as the "advance shipping" strategy adopted by Chinese exporters to cope with potential tariff sanctions. This strategy has driven export growth in 2024, but may impact export performance in 2025.

In the current global trade environment filled with uncertainties, plug-in hybrid vehicles also cannot completely avoid tariff risks. The European Union cannot afford the consequences of deteriorating relations with China, as this would have a serious impact on its industrial giants.

At the same time, trade tensions between the United States and the European Union are escalating. On March 12, the United States revoked the tariff exemptions for EU steel and aluminum products and increased the aluminum tariff to 25%. In response, the EU plans to impose tariffs on American-made whiskey, soybeans, and other agricultural products.

In 2023, the total number of electric vehicles imported by the European Union from China decreased by 6% year-on-year, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025, with a projected decline of 6%. In this context, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao recently met with BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse, urging the EU to resolve the issue of imposing anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as soon as possible. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also emphasized that despite the current complex situation, China-EU cooperation can still bring stability and certainty to the global economy. He hopes that BMW Group will continue to promote an early mutually acceptable solution between the EU Commission and China.