OPINION: Putting tariffs on Chinese EVs would be a disaster

13th March 2025

Russell Campbell

Take a look at the global landsape and ‘tariffs’ seems to be the word of 2025. The EU is not immune; it has just slapped a fee of up to 35 per cent on Chinese EVs.

Of course, there is a reason behind this. China heavily subsidises its EV production to the point that European brands can’t match the price point and often can’t keep up with the battery technology. China can give you a gizmo-laden model for the same price as a basic European alternative.

Surprisingly, though, European rivals don’t want tariffs to be introduced on the new-found competition. Why? Because any tariff the EU puts on Chinese cars will likely be reflected on European cars for sale in China, the more expensive models getting that bit more expensive. A problem when you’re trying to sell your posh European EV to a nation with more than 500,000 million drivers that can choose a cheaper homegrown alternative that’s just as good on paper.

But tariffs hurt the consumer more than anyone else. That was what struck me when I was at the launch of the Zeekr 7X, a huge, luxurious five-seater electric SUV that can be yours for €52,990 (£44,000) in the Netherlands where it has just been launched when a rival like a comparable Audi Q6 e-tron starts from £65,000. UK sales are expected sometime in the future.

And the Zeekr is no poor relation to an Audi. Outside, it looks as slick as any of its European rivals, and inside it feels almost as poshed – top-end models even get the Nappa leather interior that premium Euro brands are slowly trying to phase out with vegan alternatives.

While we say it’s a direct alternative to the Q6, from the inside the 7X feels more like a Q8 with the luxury of space that a big five-seater SUV is so good at supplying.

It does have its foibles, though. While the boot is big – 539 litres in the back with an additional 66 litres behind the front wheels – you get acres of legroom and the interior is nicely finished. You still get gimmicky controls for things like the ventilation and wing mirrors that make an Audi refreshingly simple to use.

But you’ll be thankful for the Zeekr’s technology when it comes to charging.
Even the basic model has a 75kWh battery that’s good for nearly 300 miles between charges, and the 100kWh model can add another 80 miles to that. European rivals claim similar efficiency but often struggle to match it. While the Audi can charge at speeds up to 270kW, the Zeekr goes one step further with charging speeds of 360kW, allowing for a full charge in just 16 minutes.

The Zeekr even has the Audi licked in terms of performance. The €62,990 Zeekr 7X Privilege gets from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, a figure the £68,000 Q6 e-tron Sports Quattro doesn’t even get close to, it taking 5.9 seconds.

While the EV infrastructure is still patchy in some parts of the UK and the government no longer offers any subsidy in the private purchase of a new EV, now is not the time to put tariffs on Chinese models offering the cheapest EV motoring access.