Index
Two different tariff fronts: Europe vs US and EU vs China
Trump's tariffs on European cars: what is and isn't happening in Spain
EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles: the most direct impact for dealerships
How all this affects the price of new and used cars
Specific opportunities and risks for stock strategy
What to watch out for in the coming months
Dealcar and stock control in a market with more variables
Frequently asked questions
Two different tariff fronts: Europe vs US and EU vs China
When the sector talks about tariffs in 2026, two situations with completely different origins, objectives and effects are lumped together. It is worth separating them before drawing conclusions.
The first front is the trade conflict between the United States and the European Union. Trump announced a 25% tariff on European vehicles exported to the United States in May 2026, raising the previous 15% levy and accusing Brussels of breaching the trade pact signed in autumn 2025. This affects cars manufactured in Europe that are exported to the US, with Germany, France and Italy being the hardest hit by volume.
The second front is the one opened by the European Union against electric vehicles made in China. Since the end of 2024, the EU has applied additional tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China to offset the state subsidies these manufacturers receive, which Brussels considers unfair competition. These tariffs affect brands such as BYD, MG, Omoda, Jaecoo and others selling in Spain.
For a Spanish used car dealer, the relevance of each front is very different.
Trump's tariffs on European cars: what is and isn't happening in Spain
Spain barely exports cars directly to the United States. Manufacturers with plants on Spanish soil, such as SEAT, Renault, Ford or Stellantis, have Europe and other markets as the main destination for their production, not the US. For this reason, factories in Spain are not among the direct targets of Trump's tariff measures.
That said, the impact exists, even if it is indirect. The automotive industry accounts for 8.1% of the national GDP and directly employs 380,000 people. Any blow to the European supply chain translates into lower production in Spanish plants and downward pressure on industrial employment.
The most relevant effect for the used car dealership is the one felt through the prices of new cars. If major European manufacturers (Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, Stellantis) absorb part of the cost of the tariffs by reducing margins or redirecting production, there could be tension in the supply chain that makes new vehicles more expensive in Europe. A more expensive new car drives demand towards used vehicles, which can be beneficial for the dealership. However, that effect is indirect and will take months to materialise if it happens.
What will not happen in the short term: Trump's tariffs raising the price of used cars already on the road in Spain. The used car market is not directly exposed to the transatlantic trade war.
EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles: the most direct impact for dealerships
This is the front with a real and immediate impact for independent dealerships working with Chinese cars in Spain.
Since 2026, the European Union has applied additional tariffs to some electric cars manufactured in China, leading to price increases of between €2,500 and €6,000 depending on the model. The tariffs vary by manufacturer: BYD has an additional tariff of 17%, SAIC (MG) has 35%, and other manufacturers have intermediate values depending on their degree of cooperation with the European Commission's investigation.
Read also opportunities and risks of second-hand Chinese cars.
It is important to keep in mind that the tariffs imposed by the European Commission on Chinese cars do not affect all Chinese vehicles, but only electric vehicles. Chinese combustion or conventional hybrid cars are not subject to these additional tariffs.
The effect on the new car market has already been noticed: the introduction of tariffs means that brands like BYD or MG can no longer compete solely on price and must decide between absorbing the countervailing duties or maintaining tighter margins.
For the used car market, the effect is different and twofold. Units already registered in Spain prior to the application of the tariffs are not directly affected: their price on the used market depends on standard supply and demand. However, the reduction in new imports of Chinese electric vehicles in the future could end up reducing the used car supply of those brands in the coming years, which could support or even raise the price of units already on the road.
How all this affects the price of new and used cars
The clearest effect on the Spanish market right now is the one described by terryocasion.com's analysis for used Chinese cars: the average price of Chinese cars available in Spain will rise, there will be higher demand for pre-tariff units, and there could be a knock-on effect that also impacts budget European or Japanese models.
For new-generation European cars, the impact of Trump's tariffs is more diffuse. If major groups (Volkswagen, Stellantis, Renault) reduce production or redirect factories due to the transatlantic conflict, the supply of new vehicles in Europe may become strained. A tighter supply of high-priced new cars can push more buyers towards used cars, supporting demand in the second-hand market.
In terms of the average price of used cars, the coches.com barometer already showed the first year-on-year drop since 2019 in 2025 (-4.3%). If tariffs create uncertainty and reduce the supply of new cars in the medium term, this correction could slow down or even reverse in some segments.
See the full analysis of used car prices in 2025.
Specific opportunities and risks for stock strategy
With this scenario, there are specific decisions that dealerships can make right now.
The clearest opportunity lies in Chinese electric cars that were already on the Spanish market before the tariffs. Units of MG, BYD, Omoda or Jaecoo already on the road and put up for sale by their owners can be purchased with a reasonable margin, because private sellers do not always know the effect of tariffs on the replacement value of those models. If the price of a new MG4 has gone up by €3,000 due to tariffs, a two-year-old used MG4 has more relative value than it did six months ago.
Read which car brands rotate fastest in a dealership.
The risk lies in the uncertainty of long-term depreciation. If tariffs shrink the presence of Chinese brands in the Spanish market and those brands lose share and visibility, the value of their used cars may drop, despite the price of new ones having risen. This is a contradictory dynamic that makes it harder to predict how the value of those vehicles will evolve.
Read also how to value a second-hand electric car.
For European used cars in mid-to-high price segments, Trump's tariff scenario could be moderately positive: if there is less supply of new cars, buyers who do not want to wait or who cannot afford the new car price will turn to used cars. This can sustain demand in segments such as saloons and SUVs aged between 3 and 7 years.
What to watch out for in the coming months
The 2026 tariff landscape is not set in stone. There are three dates or events that could significantly alter the chess board.
The first is the EU-US summit scheduled for July 2026, where both parties are expected to review the trade framework. If an agreement is reached, the 25% tariff could be lowered or frozen. If no agreement is reached, the European Commission has a list of retaliatory measures ready to be triggered, which would complicate the situation.
The second is the evolution of negotiated minimum prices between the EU and Chinese manufacturers. Some manufacturers like CUPRA (with the Tavascan manufactured in China) have already agreed minimum prices with the Commission to avoid the tariffs. If other manufacturers follow suit, the prices of Chinese electric vehicles in Spain could stabilise instead of rising.
Check how Euro 7 regulations and LEZs affect used stock.
The third is the supply dynamics of used Chinese cars: how many units of the affected brands are reaching the second-hand market and at what price real transactions are closed. This data shows whether the price arbitrage opportunity described earlier is already being exploited by other dealerships or if there is still margin left.
Dealcar and stock control in a market with more variables
When the market has more variables than usual, visibility over the stock turnover and margin of each vehicle type is more important than ever. Knowing which cars from which brands are taking longer to sell, what margins are being achieved in each segment, and how valuation request prices are evolving are details that allow you to adjust your stock buying strategy before the market forces your hand.
With Dealcar, you have that real-time visibility by vehicle type, fuel, and age. If you want to see how it works, request a demo at dealcar.io.
Frequently asked questions
Do Trump's tariffs raise the price of second-hand cars in Spain?
Not directly or immediately. Trump's tariffs affect new cars manufactured in Europe that are exported to the US. Used cars already driving in Spain are not exposed to that mechanism. Any potential indirect effect, through the supply chain and new car prices, would take months to materialise if it happens.
Do EU tariffs on Chinese cars affect used Chinese cars already in Spain?
Not directly. Units already registered in Spain are governed by supply and demand in the Spanish used car market. The tariff affects imports of new cars. What could happen is that a reduction in new Chinese imports in the future reduces the supply of used cars from those brands in the medium term, which could sustain or raise the price of units already on the road.
Does it make sense to buy used Chinese cars now, assuming they will go up in price?
It could be an opportunity, but with caveats. Pre-tariff units have a higher replacement value than they did a year ago, which can justify a more favourable valuation for the dealership. The risk is that uncertainty about the future presence of those brands in Spain could harm their long-term resale value. The most cautious strategy is to buy with an extra margin and turn over stock quickly.
Which Chinese brands have the highest tariffs in the EU?
Tariffs vary by manufacturer based on the result of the European Commission's anti-dumping investigation. SAIC (which manufactures MG) has the highest tariff, around an additional 35%. BYD has a lower tariff of around 17%. Other manufacturers like Geely, Chery or NIO have intermediate rates. These tariffs are added on top of the standard 10% tariff that already applied to all cars imported into the EU.
