The European Union has launched a defensive investigation into imports of new hybrid cars. The review covers supplies from all countries, not just China, and does not yet envisage the introduction of new tariffs. However, possible changes to EU trade rules could affect prices.

Experts from the Institute of Author Market Research report this.

The European Commission published a notice on the start of the investigation on October 30, 2026. The EU will determine whether the rapid growth of hybrid imports causes serious harm to European manufacturers or creates such a threat.

Which cars came under investigation

The check applies to new passenger cars designed for a maximum of nine seats, in which both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor participate in propulsion. That is, it may cover both conventional hybrids (HEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

The mere presence of a charging port is not the main point here. "Mild" hybrids, where the electric system does not actually propel the vehicle, are excluded from this description. Likewise, the investigation does not concern used cars.

Particular attention needs to be paid to REEVs and other non-standard schemes. Under the current EU regulation on Chinese electric vehicles, BEVs may include vehicles propelled solely by electric motors, even if an internal combustion engine operates as a generator. Therefore, the label "hybrid" in a listing does not yet determine customs status.

Why the EU opened the case and what happens next

According to the European Commission, imports of such cars increased from 957,965 vehicles in 2023 to 1,423,691 vehicles in the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. That is approximately +49%. The check concerns imports from all countries, so calling it another investigation exclusively against Chinese manufacturers is incorrect.

Decisions usually have to be made within nine months, and in exceptional cases the period may be extended by a maximum of another two months.

What this means for the Ukrainian importer

The investigation itself does not change Ukrainian customs clearance. If a car is merely passing through EU territory under the customs transit procedure, this is not the same as importing the vehicle into the European market.

The situation is different if a Ukrainian business buys a car that is initially imported and registered in the EU. If new trade restrictions emerge after the investigation, they could potentially change the purchase price and availability of such cars.

That is why for cars made to order, it is worth fixing in the contract in advance the price, customs status, delivery route, and the liability of the parties in the event of a change in conditions.

The European investigation should not be mixed with Ukrainian tax rules. For example, for purely electric passenger cars in Ukraine, there is zero duty and an excise tax of €1 per kWh of battery capacity, and during the first registration they are exempt from the pension levy. At the same time, starting in 2026, a 20% VAT applies.

The calculation is different for hybrids, so the purchase price must be immediately converted into the full Ukrainian cost.

What should the seller do now

While the EU is only conducting an investigation, there is no reason to drastically change the procurement strategy based on this news.

Instead, it is worth more carefully checking the origin of the car, its technical scheme, customs code, supply route, and the terms of the contract with the supplier. This especially applies to new Chinese PHEVs and REEVs, which may enter Ukraine via various routes.

If European rules change, cars registered for the EU market will feel it first. For direct supply to Ukraine, the situation may be different.

Therefore, the main thing for the Ukrainian auto business right now is not to try to guess the future duty rate, but to understand the path of a specific car from the manufacturer to the Ukrainian buyer and calculate its cost price along precisely this route.