Commission opens ex officio safeguard investigation into hybrid vehicle imports

The European Commission has opened an ex officio safeguard investigation into imports of certain new hybrid passenger vehicles, after EU-bound volumes rose 49 %, from 957 965 units in 2023 to 1 423 691 units in the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. The notice of initiation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, C series, on 30 October 2026 under reference C/2026/5780.

Legal basis and what is at stake

The investigation is launched pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 on common rules for imports and Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2015/755 on imports from certain third countries, after the Member States were informed. The Commission will determine whether, as a result of unforeseen developments, the product concerned is being imported in such increased quantities and/or under such terms or conditions as to cause, or threaten to cause, serious injury to Union producers.

The outcome may be trade-defence measures — quotas or tariffs — under Chapter V of both regulations. The notice states that the available information “appears to call for safeguard measures”.

The product under investigation

The scope covers new hybrid vehicles principally designed for the transport of nine persons or less, including the driver, fitted with both an internal combustion piston engine and one or more electric motors as propulsion sources, regardless of the number of wheels set in motion, and whether or not they can be charged from an external source. The relevant tariff lines are:

• CN codes ex 8703 40 10, ex 8703 50 00, ex 8703 60 10 and ex 8703 70 00
• TARIC codes 8703 40 10 10, 8703 40 10 90, 8703 50 00 10, 8703 60 10 10, 8703 60 10 90 and 8703 70 00 10

Excluded from the investigation are vehicles whose electric power source is used only for non-propulsion functions, L-category vehicles under Regulation (EU) No 168/2013, and motorcycles.

Why the Commission is acting

Brussels links the surge to unforeseen developments: rapidly growing production in third countries, the closing of markets through trade-restrictive measures adopted by a number of third countries in recent years — making the Union an attractive export destination — and the ensuing risk of further increased imports.

On injury, the notice cites evidence of a negative impact on the market share of Union producers in the most recent period and on profitability. Imports are entering at prices significantly below Union producers’ prices, the rate of increase in low-priced imports is accelerating and stocks are increasingly present. A continued surge of low-priced imports is likely to cause serious injury to Union producers in the very near future.

Deadlines, procedure and timetable

Interested parties must make themselves known to the Commission, preferably by email, no later than 15 days after publication. Questionnaire replies, written submissions and requests to be heard are due within 21 days of publication; the questionnaires are published on the day of the notice on the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security website.

• Submissions are made via TRON.tdi or to TRADE-SAFEGUARD-HYBRIDS@ec.europa.eu
• Correspondence address: European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, Directorate G, Unit G5, Office CHAR 05/152, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
• Extensions to questionnaire deadlines are normally limited to 3 days and as a rule will not exceed 7 days
• Confidential information must be labelled “Sensitive” and accompanied by a non-confidential summary

Any decision on measures must be taken no later than nine months from initiation, extendable by a maximum of two months in exceptional circumstances. Provisional measures, if critical circumstances so require, may not exceed 200 days. Parties that refuse access to information or supply false or misleading data face findings based on the facts available. Requests for intervention of the Hearing Officer follow the same 21-day timeframe, and personal data are handled under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

Impact

The proceeding puts European manufacturers, importers and dealerships on notice: they must decide within weeks whether to register as interested parties and return questionnaires, since the Commission’s injury findings — and any subsequent quotas or duties — will rest on the data submitted in this window.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C series, No C/2026/5780, 30 October 2026, notices, p. 1/4 (official reference: C/2026/5780).