The European Commission has launched a formal review of anti-subsidy tariffs applied to Volkswagen electric vehicles manufactured in China, a move that could lead to their replacement with a minimum price commitment, according to the EU’s Official Journal, cited by Reuters.
The Commission, which imposed tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles in October 2024, confirmed it had received a price commitment offer from VW Anhui. The ongoing review will assess whether the proposal is acceptable and feasible to implement.
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The request concerns the fully electric Tavascan SUV, produced in China and exported to Europe under the Seat and Cupra brands. Volkswagen redirected the inquiry to its Spanish subsidiary Seat, although a company spokesperson did not provide an immediate response.
Volkswagen’s Anhui plant operates as a joint venture, majority-owned together with Chinese automaker JAC Automobile. Under EU rules in effect since October 2024, exports from the Anhui facility are subject to a 20.7% tariff, which Seat and Cupra have previously described as a serious threat to their brands.
In April, the European Commission announced that it had agreed with China to explore the possibility of introducing minimum prices for Chinese-made electric vehicles as an alternative to tariffs. However, EU officials stressed that any minimum pricing mechanism would have to be just as effective and enforceable as the current tariff system.
The outcome of this review could have significant implications for EU-China automotive trade and for the future production strategies of major European car manufacturers.
Photo: Săptămâna Financiară
