European car manufacturers and industry groups are urging Brussels to delay stricter EV rules of origin, citing dependencies on imported batteries and mounting tensions with Chinese manufacturing overcapacity.
European carmakers and industry groups are once again pressing Brussels to push back the next stage of Brexit-related EV rules of origin, arguing that the sector is still too dependent on imported batteries and battery materials to meet the tougher threshold without losing tariff-free access, according to the Guardian. The existing arrangement, agreed by the EU and UK in 2023, already delayed the stricter regime until the end of 2026 after policymakers concluded the battery industry was not scaling quickly enough. (theguardian.com)
From 1 January 2027, electric vehicles crossing the Channel without tariffs will need 55% of their value to originate in the EU or UK, while batteries will need to meet local-content thresholds of 65% to 70%, depending on the component. The Council of the EU said that the extension approved in December 2023 was designed to give manufacturers more time, alongside about €3 billion in Innovation Fund support for battery capacity, but also locked in the 2027 regime, with no further changes allowed before 2032. (consilium.europa.eu)
The latest lobbying effort reflects wider unease in Europe’s auto sector about Chinese manufacturing overcapacity and the competitive pressure it is creating, particularly as the region remains reliant on China for key inputs such as lithium refining. Jonathan O’Riordan, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s international trade director, told the Guardian that industry forecasts once assumed 60% of batteries across vehicle segments would be made in Europe by 2027, but that current estimates point to just under 20% by that date. (theguardian.com)
- https://www.just-auto.com/news/brexit-ev-rules-delay/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/12/21/eu-uk-relations-council-greenlights-extension-of-current-rules-of-origin-for-electric-vehicles-until-the-end-of-2026/ – On 21 December 2023, the Council of the European Union approved a proposal to extend the current rules of origin for electric vehicles and batteries under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement until 31 December 2026. This extension aims to provide manufacturers more time to comply with local content requirements, preventing the implementation of stricter rules from 1 January 2024 and avoiding a 10% tariff on goods traded between the EU and the UK that do not meet these requirements. The industry is expected to adapt to higher local content requirements by 2027 by expanding battery production for electric vehicles during this period. Support of approximately €3 billion will be provided for this purpose under the Innovation Fund. The extension is complemented by a lock-in mechanism, ensuring that the full regime for local content requirements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement will apply from 2027, with no changes possible before 2032.
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/07/eu-uk-car-industry-lobbying-second-brexit-ev-tariff-delay – The European car industry is urging the EU to delay the implementation of stricter electric vehicle (EV) rules of origin, originally set to take effect in January 2027. Industry leaders, including Jonathan O’Riordan of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), have expressed concerns that the sector cannot meet the ‘made in Europe’ battery targets by the deadline. O’Riordan stated that the industry had forecasted that 60% of batteries across all segments would be made in Europe by 2027 when the tariff schedule was first suspended in 2024. However, it is now estimated that by 1 January 2027, ‘just under 20%’ of batteries will be made in the EU. The industry is calling for a policy shift to accelerate the transition and meet the stringent requirements.
- https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/eu-member-states-approve-ev-tariff-suspension – On 21 December 2023, the EU and the UK agreed to a three-year extension to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’s (TCA) rules of origin for electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries, postponing stricter requirements from 2024 to 2027. The TCA included a staged approach, requiring phased increases in the rules of origin requirements. The extension means that in 2027, 55% of an EV’s overall value and 65-70% of EV batteries must originate in the UK or EU. Until 2027, 40% of an EV’s overall value and 30% of batteries must be UK/EU content. No changes to the rules of origin will be possible before 2032. The decision was lauded by industry as a win for motorists, the economy, and the environment, ensuring a wider and more affordable choice of models.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trade-and-cooperation-agreement-partnership-council-decision-number-1-2023-electric-vehicle-rules-of-origin/trade-and-cooperation-agreement-partnership-council-decision-1-for-2023-21-december-2023 – On 21 December 2023, the United Kingdom and the European Union jointly agreed an extension to the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement’s rules of origin for electric vehicles and their batteries, until 31 December 2026. To access zero tariffs under the TCA, businesses must prove that their products include a minimum level of EU or UK-manufactured content. These requirements are known as rules of origin and help determine where products originate rather than where they are shipped from, to ensure lower tariffs are correctly applied to eligible products and to support market competition. The TCA included a staged approach for electric vehicles and batteries, which required phased increases in these rules of origin requirements. The first increase was due to take effect on 1 January 2024, before a final increase from 1 January 2027. The agreement with the EU cancelled the 2024 changes, meaning the existing rules of origin will last until the end of 2026.
- https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA%282024%29757643 – The European Parliament’s Think Tank published a document on 7 February 2024 discussing the EU-UK rules of origin for electric vehicles and batteries. The document highlights that the EU and the UK are key automotive trading partners and that after the UK’s departure from the EU, the two parties concluded a Trade and Cooperation Agreement, committing them to a progressive increase in the EU and UK content in the electric vehicles (EVs) and EV batteries they trade, to avoid tariffs. As the European EV batteries sector is not sufficiently developed, the parties have agreed to extend the current rules until 2027.
- https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-01-08/debates/24010861000008/ElectricVehicleRulesOfOriginExtension – On 8 January 2024, during a debate in the UK Parliament, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, announced that on 21 December 2023, the United Kingdom and the European Union jointly agreed an extension to the UK-EU trade and co-operation agreement’s rules of origin for electric vehicles and their batteries, until 31 December 2026. To access zero tariffs under the TCA, businesses must prove that their products include a minimum level of EU or UK-manufactured content. These requirements are known as rules of origin and help determine where products originate rather than where they are shipped from, to ensure lower tariffs are correctly applied to eligible products and to support market competition. The TCA included a staged approach for electric vehicles and batteries, which required phased increases in these rules of origin requirements. The first increase was due to take effect on 1 January 2024, before a final increase from 1 January 2027. The agreement with the EU cancelled the 2024 changes, meaning the existing rules of origin will last until the end of 2026.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article from The Guardian was published on 7 June 2026, making it current. However, similar discussions about delays in Brexit-related EV tariffs have been reported since October 2023, indicating that the topic has been ongoing for some time. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/oct/25/eu-carmakers-call-for-delay-in-post-brexit-tariffs-on-electric-vehicles-rules-of-origin?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Jonathan O’Riordan, international trade director at ACEA, and Mike Hawes, chief executive of the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. While these quotes are attributed, they cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/07/eu-uk-car-industry-lobbying-second-brexit-ev-tariff-delay?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The Guardian is a reputable news organisation known for its investigative journalism. However, the article relies on statements from industry representatives, which may present a biased perspective. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/07/eu-uk-car-industry-lobbying-second-brexit-ev-tariff-delay?utm_source=openai))
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The concerns raised about the inability to meet the 2027 targets for EV battery production are plausible, given the challenges in scaling up production and the reliance on imported materials. However, the exact figures and projections should be cross-verified with independent sources. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/07/eu-uk-car-industry-lobbying-second-brexit-ev-tariff-delay?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article provides current information on the automotive industry’s push for a delay in Brexit-related EV tariffs. While the sources are reputable, the reliance on industry representatives’ statements and the lack of independent verification of some quotes introduce potential biases. Further cross-referencing with independent sources is advisable to ensure accuracy.
