Landed Cost Methodology

Why we publish this

Most Chinese EV listings show only the factory or FOB price. A car advertised at $14,000 can land in Germany at over $28,000 once duties, VAT, freight, and certification are applied. That gap is the single biggest surprise for first-time importers — and the reason CNEVhub exists.

Every landed-cost figure on CNEVhub is produced from a single, documented formula using public tariff schedules, national tax rates, and industry freight benchmarks. This page is that documentation.

The formula

landed_price = base_price × (1 + std_duty) × (1 + countervailing_duty) × (1 + VAT)
    + RoRo freight + customs clearance + certification + registration + inland transport

Duties compound in this order because that is how customs valuations cascade in practice: the standard duty is assessed on the CIF value, the countervailing duty on top of that, and VAT is charged last on the duty-inclusive total.

1. Standard import duty — 10%

All passenger EVs imported into the EU are subject to a 10% most-favoured-nation (MFN) import duty, assessed on the CIF value (car price + insurance + freight). [Source: EU Common Customs Tariff, TARIC]

2. Countervailing duty — 17% to 35.3%

Since 2024, the EU applies anti-subsidy (countervailing) duties to Chinese battery-electric vehicles, on top of the standard 10%. Rates are set per producer:

[Source: EU Commission Implementing Regulation on countervailing duties for BEVs from China]

3. VAT, 19% to 23% by destination

[Source: national tax authorities]

4. Freight & fixed costs

• RoRo ocean freight: $1,500 – $2,500 per vehicle (China → North Europe main ports). We use $2,000 as the central estimate.
• Customs clearance: ~$350 per vehicle.
• Certification / homologation: $1,500 – $5,000 (ECWVTA or Small Series approval). We use $3,250 central.
• Registration: $400 – $500 (Germany ~$500).
• Inland transport: ~$500 from port to dealer/registrant.

[Source: industry freight and homologation benchmarks]

Assumptions & limits

These are B2B import estimates, not retail quotes. Actual landed cost varies with trim, port of entry, volume, currency, and homologation route. Figures are refreshed when tariff schedules or tax rates change, and every estimate on the site carries its data date.