The EU has initiated a global safeguard investigation into certain new hybrid vehicles.

On October 30, 2026, the European Commission issued a notice initiating a safeguard investigation into imports of certain new hybrid passenger vehicles. The products concerned are mainly designed to carry nine persons or fewer and are equipped with both an internal combustion piston engine and an electric motor as drive motors, whether or not capable of being charged by connection to an external power source. The case concerns EU CN codes ex 8703 40 10, ex 8703 50 00, ex 8703 60 10 and ex 8703 70 00. Unless extended otherwise, a final ruling will be made within 9 months from the date of initiation.