European buyers are increasingly turning to pre-owned Chinese electric vehicles to bypass trade restrictions. According to the China EV Marketplace (CEVM), sales of used cars to EU customers surged by 280% year-over-year during the first nine months of 2026, reaching 7,900 units.
This shift follows the introduction of EU countervailing duties of up to 45.3% on new Chinese battery electric vehicles in 2024 and subsequent import caps on plug-in hybrids. Unlike new models, used vehicles remain exempt from these specific tariffs and quotas.
CEVM currently lists over 2,600 used vehicles from brands including Xiaomi, BYD, and Avatr. Due to high competition in the domestic Chinese market, the company reports finding vehicles with approximately 6,000 km of mileage priced 40% below their original MSRP.
To support this demand, CEVM has opened a delivery center in Prague. The facility holds an initial stock of 20 vehicles, allowing customers to avoid the standard three-month wait time required for direct imports from China.
