BYD's Denza Z9GT costs €39,700 in China and €120,000 in Europe
BYD's Denza Z9GT sells for €39,700 in China but €120,000 in Europe. Tariffs, VAT and protectionism explain the price gap European consumers are paying.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Denza Z9GT: €39,700 in China, €120,000 in Europe
The very same vehicle, BYD's Denza Z9GT, sells in China for €39,700 while in Europe it costs €120,000. The difference is not a matter of costs: it is the premium European consumers pay for a cocktail of tariffs, VAT and disguised protectionism.
The VAT calculation that doesn't lie
If the car were sold at the Chinese price (€40,000), VAT at 21% would be €8,400. At the European price of €120,000, VAT amounts to €25,200. The tax bill triples, and the taxman wins. But it is not just the tax: import tariffs on Chinese cars (10% for electric passenger cars) and technical barriers inflate the final price.
Protectionism that backfires
Europe built its advantage on diesel, which served as a wall against Asian engines. Now that China leads the electric market, that barrier has been blown apart. Meanwhile, German manufacturers sell a Golf GTI that costs €8,000-10,000 to build for €55,000-60,000. The same overpricing logic, but with a German stamp.
With these mark-ups, the old saying about gulling someone should be updated. The question is how long European consumers will keep paying three times as much for the same technology.
Related discussions in the forum
The very same vehicle, BYD's Denza Z9GT, sells in China for €39,700 while in Europe it costs €120,000. The difference is not a matter of costs: it is the premium European consumers pay for a cocktail of tariffs, VAT and disguised protectionism.
The VAT calculation that doesn't lie
If the car were sold at the Chinese price (€40,000), VAT at 21% would be €8,400. At the European price of €120,000, VAT amounts to €25,200. The tax bill triples, and the taxman wins. But it is not just the tax: import tariffs on Chinese cars (10% for electric passenger cars) and technical barriers inflate the final price.
Protectionism that backfires
Europe built its advantage on diesel, which served as a wall against Asian engines. Now that China leads the electric market, that barrier has been blown apart. Meanwhile, German manufacturers sell a Golf GTI that costs €8,000-10,000 to build for €55,000-60,000. The same overpricing logic, but with a German stamp.
With these mark-ups, the old saying about gulling someone should be updated. The question is how long European consumers will keep paying three times as much for the same technology.
Related discussions in the forum
- Arnaldo Otegi: "There is a political operation by the State to destroy Pedro Sánchez's PSOE" · 23 replies
- They pick his girlfriend for Bad Bunny's little house and he is left stranded for the whole concert · 31 replies
- Can anyone explain why FOOD INFLATION IN SPAIN is 30% HIGHER THAN THE EUROPEAN AVERAGE when we are PRODUCERS..... · 28 replies
- Stunning photo of an NS girl. Check out the T-shirt · 172 replies
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
More summaries
-
German carmakers sell their EVs in China up to 46% cheaper than in Europe
German carmakers are selling their electric cars in China up to 46% cheaper than in Europe. Find out why and which models are affected.
-
China Dominates EV Sales as Europe Falls Behind
China sold 13 million EVs in 2025, accounting for 60% of global sales. Europe trails with 4 million units.
-
China Turns Spain Into Its Major European Car Hub
Is Chinese investment in Spain's auto industry a lifeline or a trap? We analyze the debate over the sector's future.
-
France riots: home invasions fuel civil war debate
Riots in France: home invasions and the debate over whether this is the start of a civil war. An analysis of impunity and the collapse of public order.
-
64 dead in Spain's high-speed rail crash as maintenance debate reopens
64 people died in the high-speed train crash at Urda, Spain. Human error and the upkeep of a vast network have reopened the debate over Spain's rail model.
-
Leaked train accident recordings point to a single operator
Ten months without an official report on the Adamuz crash, and just ten hours for the Toledo recordings to leak: blame is being directed at the operator while the safety system remains unexamined.