Sales of used Chinese electric cars to European Union customers have jumped 280 per cent this year, according to online importer China EV Marketplace. Meanwhile, the company says its new-car sales have fallen 44 per cent, as tariffs and an agreed cap on hybrid imports push buyers towards used models.
What do the numbers show?
China EV Marketplace (CEVM) says it sold 7,900 used vehicles to EU customers between January and September 2026. That’s a 280 per cent rise on the same period last year. Over the same months, its new-vehicle sales dropped by 44 per cent, the company says.
These are CEVM’s own figures, and they cover a single seller. Nobody has checked them independently. Still, they point to a shift in how some Europeans are buying Chinese cars.
Why are tariffs pushing buyers towards used cars?
The story starts in 2024. That October, the EU imposed countervailing duties on battery-electric cars made in China. Added to the standard 10 per cent import duty, the total reaches up to 45.3 per cent. According to CEVM, European buyers importing from China then moved towards new plug-in hybrids and used EVs.
Now the picture is changing again. The EU and China have agreed a cap of 350,000 a year on hybrid and plug-in hybrid imports from China. It’s due to take effect through an EU safeguard, although its start date isn’t confirmed yet. As a result, new plug-in hybrids look like a riskier choice for importers.
Jakub Geršl, CEVM’s chief operating officer, said: “Tariffs have already weakened demand for new Chinese BEVs among our European customers. We expect the hybrid import cap to put pressure on new PHEV sales too.” He says pre-owned cars fall outside both measures. “That is why we are making pre-owned vehicles the main focus of our European business,” he added.
How cheap are these cars?
At the time of the announcement, CEVM listed more than 2,600 used EVs on its website. Brands include Xiaomi, BYD, iCar, Denza, Lynk & Co and Avatr. According to the company, fierce competition in China has dragged used prices well below original list prices.
“Lower new-car prices put pressure on pre-owned prices as well,” Geršl said. “We regularly find cars with around 6,000 km on the clock priced 40% below their original Chinese list price.” That 40 per cent figure is the company’s own claim, so individual deals will vary.
Which EVs hold their value best in China?
The China Automobile Dealers Association tracks used-car values in a monthly report produced with Jingzhengu. Its September 2026 data covers battery-electric cars after three years.
Tesla leads the table. The Model 3 retains 61.4 per cent of its value, ahead of the Model X at 59.5 per cent and the Model Y at 53.9 per cent. The BYD Seagull is the best-performing Chinese model, keeping 50.5 per cent. In other words, even the strongest Chinese models typically lose around half their value in three years.
What’s the Prague delivery centre for?
Importing directly from China usually means a wait of around three months. To cut that delay, CEVM says it has opened a delivery centre in Prague, starting with an initial batch of 20 EVs, so customers can collect a car straight away.
That’s a small fleet. Nevertheless, it suggests the company expects demand for used imports to last. It also gives European buyers a chance to see a car in person before they pay.
What does this mean for European buyers?
For now, used Chinese EVs give buyers a route around both the tariffs and the coming hybrid quota, according to CEVM. Buyers can get nearly new cars at much lower prices. On the other hand, they’ll need to think carefully about warranty cover, servicing and parts support where they live.
The volumes also remain tiny next to Europe’s overall car market. Even so, the trend shows how quickly demand can move when trade rules change. If it continues, policymakers may well turn their attention to the second-hand route next.
