China hybrid car exports to EU surge 204% ahead of import cap

China's hybrid car exports to the EU tripled year-on-year in September, reaching nearly 100,000 units, as exporters front-run an import cap agreed in recent trade talks. The surge outpaces overall passenger car export growth, indicating a strategic shift toward hybrids to maximize shipments before restrictions take effect. The cap's implementation timeline and scope remain uncertain, but the data signals a near-term trade flow spike with potential market implications for European automakers.