European demand for pre-owned Chinese electric vehicles has risen sharply throughout 2026. Data from China EV Marketplace shows that sales of used Chinese EVs to European Union customers grew by 280% between January and September, reaching 7,900 units. During the same period, sales of new Chinese electric vehicles in the region fell by 44%.
This shift follows the European Union's decision to impose additional countervailing duties of up to 45.3% on new battery electric vehicles imported from China. These extra charges do not apply to used vehicles, which are generally subject to a standard 10% import tariff.
Market data indicates that some pre-owned models with over 6,000 kilometers on the odometer are available for approximately 40% less than their original new-car price in China. This price gap is driven by intense competition and falling values for used vehicles within the Chinese domestic market. Popular brands among European buyers include BYD, Geely, Zeekr, Xiaomi, and Denza.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
