Chinese made vehicles have rapidly become the third most popular in Australia, with more Chinese cars launching in 2025.Europe is also considering tariffs, but Australian auto advocates want to preserve competition.
And it's likely to keep growing, with models from Chinese giants Guangzhou Automobile Group and Geely Auto set to roll onto Australian roads next year. President Ursula von der Leyen said global markets were being "flooded with cheaper electric cars" with prices "kept artificially low by huge state subsidies".
China's auto makers could also leverage the country's existing expertise in battery manufacturing, which further pushed down costs through vertical integration, she said. A spokesperson from Australia's Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said increased competition and the availability of Chinese-produced vehicles had "enhanced consumer choice, allowing Australians to purchase cars that best fit their work, recreation, and family".
When asked whether Australia would consider introducing its own tariffs, the department said decisions on trade policy matters were "made in Australia's national interest". The 200,000 Chinese vehicles sold in Australia in 2023 is still far behind the 345,000 coming from Japan.Professor Zhang said despite claims China was "flooding the market" with EVs, the global vehicle fleet was still dominated by internal combustion engines and consumers would ultimately "choose products that suit their needs".
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