Chinese brands took 15.8% of Europe’s new-car market in September 2026 – Porsche deliveries fell 13% in North America and 33% in China
Key points
- US: Since September 27, 2024, electric cars from China have faced a 100% tariff.
- EU: Since October 30, 2024, importers have paid 17.8 to 45.3% depending on the maker – BYD 27.0%, SAIC/MG 45.3%.
- China: Beijing charges a flat 15% on imported cars; US goods face an extra 10%.
- Impact: Chinese brands reached 15.8% of Europe’s new-car market in September 2026. Porsche delivered 13% fewer cars in North America and 33% fewer in China.
The US keeps Chinese electric cars out of its market with a 100% tariff, while the European Union charges 17.8 to 45.3%. As a result, Chinese automakers are growing fast in Europe – and German automakers are losing market share there and sales in China.
Three economies, three answers to the same question: what to do about low-cost electric cars from China that, according to the European Commission, are built with state subsidies? Washington has all but shut the door. Brussels keeps it partly closed with tiered duties.
This analysis shows what the numbers mean for U.S. readers, for BYD and MG, and for Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche – based on the latest data from the automakers and the European carmakers’ association.
Three tariff walls: US, EU and China
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) raised the Section 301 tariff on electric vehicles from China to 100% effective September 27, 2024, four times the previous 25%. The notice was published in the Federal Register.
The European Commission has levied countervailing duties under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2754 since October 30, 2024. They come on top of the EU’s regular 10% import duty and apply for five years. According to the Commission, Tesla pays 7.8% on cars from Shanghai, BYD 17.0%, Geely 18.8% and SAIC – MG’s parent – 35.3%.
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Worked example: duty on an EV with an import value of $30,000
- US: 100% × $30,000 = $30,000
- EU, SAIC/MG: 45.3% × $30,000 = $13,590
- EU, BYD: 27.0% × $30,000 = $8,100
- EU, Tesla from Shanghai: 17.8% × $30,000 = $5,340
Method: statutory rate × import value. Excludes sales tax, shipping and other charges; in the US the 2.5% standard duty comes on top. A worked example, not a price forecast.
The difference is large: the same car pays more than twice as much duty in the US as at the highest EU rate – and almost four times as much as at BYD’s EU rate.
China itself cut its import duty on cars from 25 to 15% on July 1, 2018, according to the State Council Tariff Commission (in Chinese). For goods from the US, Beijing adds a 10% surcharge. On November 9, 2026, the commission extended the suspension of a further 24% levy on US goods by two months.
Chinese brands: 15.8% of Europe’s market
Despite the EU duties, Chinese automakers are growing quickly in Europe. According to data from the European carmakers’ association ACEA published October 22, 2026, BYD, SAIC Motor, Chery, Geely Group and Leapmotor together took 15.8% of new car registrations in the EU, EFTA and UK in September.
A year earlier the figure was 9.8% – a gain of 6.0 percentage points. Chery grew most, from 1.5 to 3.9%. BYD nearly doubled its registrations to 49,953 cars (up 98.7%).
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Two caveats apply. Geely Group includes Volvo Cars and Polestar, not all of whose cars are built in China. Leapmotor is sold through a joint venture that is 51% owned by Stellantis, the parent of Jeep, Chrysler and Ram.
VW loses 3.1 points, Porsche slumps
German automakers are on the other side. Volkswagen Group took 22.6% of new registrations in the EU, EFTA and UK in September 2026, down from 25.7% – a loss of 3.1 percentage points. BMW slipped from 6.9 to 6.3%, Mercedes-Benz from 5.5 to 5.3%.
Porsche is also selling fewer cars in North America. The Stuttgart-based sports car maker says it delivered 56,088 cars in North America from January to September 2026, 13% fewer than a year earlier. In China, deliveries fell 33% to 21,493 cars.
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Worldwide, Porsche delivered 178,532 cars, down 16%. The market environment in China remains challenging, the company said. Profits, by contrast, recovered: according to its quarterly statement, operating profit rose to €1.74 billion in the first nine months, from €0.04 billion a year earlier.
Why the EU duties have gaps
A single average tariff for all Chinese cars in the EU cannot be given with any accuracy. The EU countervailing duties apply only to battery-electric cars. Plug-in hybrids and gasoline or diesel cars from China are not covered and pay only the regular 10%.
Cars built inside the EU do not count as imports from China either – Tesla, for example, also builds the Model Y in Grünheide near Berlin. The ACEA market shares, by contrast, cover all powertrains and all production sites.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the US tariff on Chinese EVs?
100% under Section 301, effective September 27, 2024. Before that it was 25%. The regular US duty of 2.5% comes on top.
How high is the EU tariff on Chinese EVs?
Between 17.8% (Tesla from Shanghai) and 45.3% (SAIC/MG and non-cooperating makers). BYD pays 27.0%, Geely 28.8% – each including the 10% standard duty.
Does China tax cars imported from the US?
Yes, 15% on imported cars since July 1, 2018, plus a 10% surcharge on goods from the US.
How are German automakers doing?
VW Group took 22.6% of Europe’s market in September 2026, 3.1 points less than a year earlier. Porsche delivered 13% fewer cars in North America and 33% fewer in China from January to September.
Whether the tariffs protect Western automakers in the long run remains open. So far the numbers show one thing above all: Chinese brands keep growing in Europe, even with a tariff surcharge.
Sources and status
- USTR: completion of the Section 301 review, September 2024 and Federal Register 2024-21217
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2754 of October 29, 2024 and European Commission notice on the rates
- ACEA: new car registrations September 2026, October 22, 2026 (PDF)
- Porsche AG: deliveries January to September 2026 and Q3 2026 figures
- State Council Tariff Commission of China: car import duty cut effective July 1, 2018 (in Chinese)
Research and data as of: November 13, 2026.
Transparency note: AI-assisted tools were used in researching, structuring and writing this article. The sources used are listed in the article. Publication takes place only after manual editorial approval. Country edition based on an article by Net Trends, researched for the United States.
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