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European car makers are struggling with weak demand, high production costs, and managing the shift to EVs, while trying to fend off competition from China

European car sales flat in October but EVs gain ground

New car sales in Europe were flat in October, after falling for two consecutive months, industry data showed today, while the transition to fully electric or hybrid models gained ground in the month.

Business • 21 Nov 24

Maxol CEO wants cap on retail floorspace to be lifted

The CEO of Maxol has said the cap on retail floorspace of 100m² in the forecourt and convenience retail sector should be lifted to facilitate growth.

Business • 13 Nov 24

Toyota was the most popular make of new private car licensed in October, today's CSO figures show

New EVs licensed in first 10 months of 2024 down 25%

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show a 25% decrease in the number of electric cars licensed for the first time in the first 10 months of 2024 when compared with the same time last year.

Business • 11 Nov 24

The European Commission is set to impose extra tariffs ranging from 7.8% for Tesla to 35.3% for China's SAIC, on top of the EU's standard 10% car import duty

EU slaps tariffs on Chinese EVs, risking Beijing backlash

The European Union has decided to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles to as much as 45.3% at the end of its highest profile trade investigation that has divided Europe and prompted retaliation from Beijing.

Business • 30 Oct 24

A senior EU official said the extra tariffs had been formally approved on Tuesday.

EU slaps tariffs on Chinese EVs, risking Beijing payback

The European Union has decided to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles to as much as 45.3% at the end of its highest profile investigation that has divided Europe and prompted retaliation from Beijing.

Business • 29 Oct 24

The EU is set to impose additional tariffs of up to 35.3% next week on electric vehicles built in China at the conclusion of its anti-subsidy investigation

EU, China agree to more talks on EV tariffs alternatives

The European Union and China have agreed to hold further technical negotiations soon on possible alternatives to tariffs on China-built electric vehicles, although significant gaps remain, the European Commission said today.

Business • 25 Oct 24

Total car sales in the EU slowed by 6.1% year-on-year, as major markets Germany, France and Italy continued to stagnate

Hybrid overtakes petrol in slowing EU new car market

New hybrid cars sold in the European Union in September accounted for 32.8% of total new car sales, overtaking the monthly market share of petrol-powered vehicles for the first time, data from Europe's auto industry body showed.

Business • 22 Oct 24

Both diesel and petrol prices continued to fall in October

Petrol and diesel prices see third monthly fall - AA

Petrol and diesel prices have decreased for the third month in a row, the latest AA Ireland fuel survey shows.

Business • 21 Oct 24

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, beside a Citroen C5 Aircross Concept car at the Paris Motor Show

China-Europe rivalry heats up at Paris car show

Chinese and European automakers went head-to-head at the Paris car show today, with tensions running high as the EU gears up to impose hefty import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and the industry struggles with weak demand.

Business • 14 Oct 24

GAC is among China's largest automakers and is targeting 500,000 overseas sales by 2030.

China's GAC looks at making EVs in Europe as tariffs loom

Chinese state-owned carmaker GAC is exploring the manufacture of EVs in Europe to avoid EU tariffs, the general manager of its international business has told Reuters, joining a growing list of Chinese companies planning local production.

Business • 14 Oct 24

New CSO figures show that 15,460 new electric cars were licensed in the first nine months of 2024 compared with 20,517 the same time last year

Electric car sales down 25% in first nine months of 2024

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show a 25% decrease in the number of electric cars licensed for the first time in the first nine months of this year.

Business • 09 Oct 24

The European Commission has received enough support from EU members to impose tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicle imports

EU executive to adopt tariffs on Chinese EVs after vote

The European Commission said today it had received enough support from EU members to impose tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicle imports in the bloc's highest profile trade case, but would continue to negotiate with Beijing.

Business • 04 Oct 24

New car registrations for September were down 10.3% to 5,137 from 5,727 the same time last year

September car registrations slow down by 10% - SIMI

New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that the new electric vehicle market experienced another month of decline in registrations in September - marking the eighth consecutive month of this trend.

Business • 01 Oct 24

Sales of fully electric cars in the European Union slumped 43.9% in August - down for the fourth month in a row

EU car sales at 3-year low in August, EV sales down 43.9%

New car sales in the European Union fell 18.3% in August to their lowest in three years, dragged by double-digit losses in major markets Germany, France and Italy, data from Europe's auto industry body showed today.

Business • 19 Sep 24

The European Commission plans to add import duties onto Chinese electric vehicles over claims they benefit from state subsidies

China 'disappointed' by Europe's rejection of EV proposal

China said it was "deeply disappointed" with the European Commission's decision to reject a minimum import price proposal aimed at warding off tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Business • 13 Sep 24

Range anxiety and charging infrastructure continue to be issues in adoption

Used electric vehicle prices down 15%, says DoneDeal

Prices of used electric vehicles during the second quarter of the year were down 15% on where they were at the same time last year, new research has found.

Business • 05 Sep 24

Volvo Cars is bracing for the effects of European tariffs on electric cars made in China

Volvo Cars abandons near-term EV-only ambitions

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars has said it has abandoned is ambition to sell only fully electric cars by 2030, and would instead allow plug-in vehicles as well as some hybrid engine cars as part of its lineup at that time.

Business • 04 Sep 24

SIMI has called on the Government to prioritise support for EVs in Budget 2025.

New electric vehicle sales down over 25% so far this year

Just over 15,000 new electric vehicles have been sold so far this year, down over 25% on the same period last year.

Business • 02 Sep 24

Hyundai is planning to double its hybrid lineup to counter a slowdown in global electric vehicle demand

Hyundai Motor targets 30% rise in sales by 2030

Hyundai Motor said today it was targeting annual global sales of 5.55 million vehicles by 2030, up 30% from 2023, as it plans to double its hybrid lineup to counter a slowdown in global electric vehicle demand.

Business • 28 Aug 24

The new 100% duties apply to all EVs shipped from China, including those made by Tesla

Canada to impose 100% tariff on Chinese EVs

Canada, following the lead of the US and European Union, is to impose a 100% tariff on imports of Chinese electric vehicles and announced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum from China.

Business • 27 Aug 24

Tesla's Chinese-made cars will face a reduced rate of 9% after the European Commission confirmed it had received a lower level of subsidies from China

EU confirms tariffs of up to 36.3% on Chinese-made EVs

The European Commission has confirmed it will apply additional duties of up to 36.3% on imported electric vehicles made in China, as it issued draft definitive findings of its anti-subsidy investigation.

Business • 20 Aug 24

14% of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric compared with 18% in the same period in 2023.

New EV sales fall 24% in first seven months of 2024

New electric car sales dropped 24% between January and July when compared to the same period last year, new data shows.

Business • 13 Aug 24

Tesla shares fell 8% in after-hours trade on Wall Street last night

Tesla profit margins worst in 5 years as price cuts hit

Tesla has reported its lowest profit margin in more than five years and missed Wall Street earnings targets in the second quarter, as the electric vehicle maker cut prices to revive demand while it increased spending on AI projects.

Business • 24 Jul 24

The European Union imposed provisional tariffs of between 17.4% and 37.6% earlier in July on EVs made in China

Chinese industry body tells EU to correct its EV findings

EU tariffs on electric vehicles built in China breach global trading rules and must be corrected, an industry body representing 12 Chinese automakers told the European Commission in a hearing this week.

Business • 19 Jul 24

30% of respondents claim that they only charge when it is necessary

30% of EV drivers do not use public charging units - AA

Over 30% of EV and Hybrid drivers say they do not use public charging units, according to AA Ireland's most recent customer survey.

Business • 11 Jul 24

Electric vehicles