Used Chinese EV sales to EU buyers surge as new-car imports face restrictions

European buyers are turning increasingly to used electric vehicles from China, according to China EV Marketplace (CEVM). The company says EU customer purchases of pre-owned vehicles climbed 280% year over year to 7,900 units in January–September 2026, while its new-vehicle sales fell 44%. The figures reflect CEVM’s business, rather than overall EU registrations.

CEVM attributes the shift partly to trade restrictions. It says countervailing duties on Chinese battery-electric vehicles reached as much as 45.3% in 2024, encouraging some customers to choose plug-in hybrids or used BEVs instead. A newly introduced EU cap of 350,000 on hybrid imports from China is now adding pressure to new PHEV sales, the company says. CEVM reports that used vehicles are not covered by the additional BEV duties or the hybrid-import cap.

The marketplace lists more than 2,600 used EVs, including models from Xiaomi, BYD, Denza, Lynk & Co and Avatr. CEVM says intense price competition in China can make pre-owned cars substantially cheaper than their original list prices; examples it finds with about 6,000 km on the odometer are priced around 40% below Chinese MSRP. Separately, a September 2026 CADA and Jingzhengu ranking put Tesla Model 3 three-year value retention at 61.4%, BYD Seagull at 50.5% and Zeekr 009 at 49.9%.

To serve buyers who do not want to wait roughly three months for direct imports, CEVM has opened a delivery center in Prague, starting with 20 EVs available for pickup.