When the EU placed tariffs on electric cars made in China two years ago, the measures covered only battery-electric vehicles. CleanTechnica contributor José Pontes pointed out the gap at the time, predicting that Chinese manufacturers would respond by prioritising plug-in hybrids.
That prediction has now become a market reality. According to CleanTechnica, a glut of Chinese plug-in hybrids is threatening European automakers, which must compete with a growing supply of models that bypassed the original tariff barrier.
The episode highlights how narrowly targeted trade policy can create unintended openings, and how quickly manufacturers adapt to them.