Last year, for the first time, EU imports of Chinese cars and machine tools exceeded EU exports of European cars and machine tools, especially from Germany.
68% confidence
EconomyEuropean Union
Omissions
The claim cites no source; the data appears to come from an EY consultancy analysis reported by multiple news outlets (newmobility.news, logos-pres.md), not from official Eurostat or European Commission statistics.
The 'machine tools' (machines-outils) part of the claim could not be independently verified. No source found confirms that EU imports of Chinese machine tools specifically exceeded EU exports of machine tools to China in 2025.
The EY analysis covers 'vehicles and parts' broadly, not just finished cars. The IEA Global EV Outlook 2026 reports EU auto imports from China reached over 900,000 units in 2025.
The EY figures were published in March 2026, after the 2025 reference year, meaning the MEP could have known them by the session date of June 2026.
The claim groups cars and machine tools together; the verified evidence only covers the automotive component.
Sources
PrimaryIEA – Global EV Outlook 2026Despite growing exports, the EU net trade balance narrowed as imports went up around 35% year-on-year to reach more than 900,000 in 2025. China accounted for a significant share of those imports.
PrimaryEurostat – Statistics ExplainedThe top 2 product groups in trade between the EU and China in 2025 were electrical equipment and machines and mechanical parts. In 2025, the EU exported €199.6 billion worth of goods to China and imported €559.4 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of €359.8 billion.
Secondarynewmobility.newsFor the first time, China exports more cars to Europe than it imports. According to a new analysis by consultancy agency EY, EU exports of vehicles and parts to China fell by 34% in 2025 to €16 billion. Since 2022, European exports to China have more than halved.
Secondarylogos-pres.mdAccording to EY, shipments of European cars and components to China fell 34% to €16 billion in 2025. Since 2022, their exports to China have more than halved. The EU imported more cars from China than it exported for the first time.