- The European Commission has accepted Volkswagen Anhui's price undertaking for BEV exports, exempting the China-made Cupra Tavascan SUV from import duties.
- Volkswagen Anhui submitted the proposal last December, marking the EU's first formal review of tariffs on China-made EVs.
The European Commission has accepted Volkswagen Anhui's price undertaking for battery electric vehicle (BEV) exports, exempting the China-made Cupra Tavascan SUV (sport utility vehicle) from import tariffs.
The Chinese joint venture of Volkswagen submitted the proposal last December, marking the EU's first formal review of tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. The application sought to secure a minimum price and quota mechanism.
The European Commission's decision was dated Monday and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on Tuesday.
The European Commission formally launched an anti-subsidy investigation into imported BEVs originating from China on October 4, 2023, alleging they benefited from unfair Chinese subsidies and were distorting the European market.
In October 2025, after concluding the anti-subsidy investigation, the European Commission decided to proceed with imposing additional tariffs for a period of five years. In the meantime, discussions regarding price undertakings continued.
These tariffs were imposed on top of the existing 10% rate, with different EV manufacturers facing varying rates — Cupra's rate stands at 20.7%.
On January 12, China and the EU reached a consensus on price undertakings for Chinese EV exports. Both sides agreed it was necessary to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters shipping passenger BEVs to the EU. Volkswagen Anhui's application was submitted prior to this consensus.
Chinese authorities had previously criticized the European Commission for engaging in bilateral consultations with individual companies.
The China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (CCCEU) said in a Wednesday statement that some Chinese EV manufacturers are considering submitting their own price undertaking proposals, expressing hope for equal treatment of Chinese companies by the EU.
"Given that Chinese companies' exports to the EU are often more complex and involve multiple models and business structures, the Chamber further recommends maintaining close and constructive communication with companies to ensure that the arrangements are practical and predictable," the statement noted.
