• News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
Friday, September 12, 2025
  • Login
Auto Journal Africa
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
Ask Autojorunal AI
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home Electric Vehicles

Volkswagen’s SEAT warns 1,500 jobs at risk over EU Tariffs on China-Made EVs

David Ijaseun by David Ijaseun
February 8, 2025
in Electric Vehicles
0
Volkswagen's SEAT

Volkswagen's SEAT

852
SHARES
9.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Volkswagen’s SEAT brand has issued a dire warning: 1,500 Spanish jobs are at stake if the European Union doesn’t lower tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China. The additional levy is not only eroding profits but could also push the brand to slash production, jeopardizing its ability to meet EU emissions targets.

SEAT CEO Wayne Griffiths revealed that the current 20.7% tariff, implemented in October 2024, adds to the existing 10% tariff, making EVs like the CUPRA Tavascan nearly 30% more expensive. “We don’t have much time,” Griffiths said. “We need to get to a solution within the first quarter.” Without relief, the loss-making Tavascan could be pulled from the lineup, leaving SEAT unable to meet EU emissions standards and risking costly penalties.

READ ALSO

Munich Auto Show: Europe battles tariffs and chinese surge with cheaper EVs

Tesla offers record $1 trillion pay deal to Elon Musk, tying future to AI and robots

The CUPRA Tavascan, produced in Volkswagen’s Anhui plant in China, sells for around €50,000 to €60,000. The tariffs have already cost SEAT hundreds of millions of euros, pushing the company to miss its 2024 financial targets. Griffiths stated the increased costs would continue to hit profits into 2025, exacerbating SEAT’s challenges.

Jobs on the Line

SEAT‘s financial struggles aren’t just a corporate issue—they directly affect Spanish workers. If the Tavascan is cut, SEAT would need to scale back production of combustion engine vehicles to meet emissions limits. This could result in layoffs affecting approximately 1,500 employees.

“We are trying to protect our workforce, but this tariff makes it almost impossible,” Griffiths said. The potential job losses would not only impact SEAT’s Martorell plant but ripple through Spain’s automotive supply chain.

EU Pressure Intensifies

Griffiths and Volkswagen Group executives are in regular talks with EU officials to push for tariff reductions. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has personally appealed to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the issue, citing the severe economic and employment impacts.

While the European Commission has yet to comment, the pressure is mounting. Industry insiders argue the tariff—meant to protect European carmakers—has instead hurt them by penalizing domestically owned brands that rely on cost-efficient production in China.

Balancing Sustainability and Viability

Pulling the Tavascan would also jeopardize SEAT’s compliance with strict EU fleet emissions targets. Without the EV in its lineup, SEAT would struggle to reduce average fleet emissions, potentially facing millions in fines.

Griffiths stressed the importance of finding a solution that ensures competitiveness. “The tariff needs to be as close as possible to the original 10%,” he said.

For now, the fate of the CUPRA Tavascan—and the livelihoods of thousands of workers—hangs in the balance as SEAT races against the clock to find a resolution.

Read more on Trump tariff threats shake Canadian Aerospace industry, threaten supply chains

Tags: electric vehicleseuropeHeadlineTariffs

Related Posts

Munich Auto Show 2025 [Reuters]
Electric Vehicles

Munich Auto Show: Europe battles tariffs and chinese surge with cheaper EVs

September 8, 2025
Elon Musk at Tesla
Electric Vehicles

Tesla offers record $1 trillion pay deal to Elon Musk, tying future to AI and robots

September 7, 2025
Electric vehicles plant in Kenya
Africa

Kenya bets on EVs to cut fuel imports and create jobs as local assembly surges 16%

September 3, 2025
Suzuki to invest $8bn into India as first EV rolls off Gujarat plant
Electric Vehicles

Suzuki to invest $8bn into India as first EV rolls off Gujarat plant

August 26, 2025
Driver survives triple lightning strike as electric cars defy old myths
Electric Vehicles

Driver survives triple lightning strike as electric cars defy old myths

August 26, 2025
Chevrolet EV Truck Breaks World Record With 1,059-Mile Drive
Electric Vehicles

Chevrolet EV truck breaks world record with 1,059-Mile drive on single charge

August 24, 2025
Next Post
FIA President

FIA introduces rotating race directors for F1 2025 to enhance efficiency

POPULAR NEWS

Inferno at Toyota 1000 Desert Race consumes 49 cars

Inferno at Toyota 1000 Desert Race consumes 49 cars

July 3, 2023
Mobius Motors

Mobius Motors: Rising taxes, competition ends Kenyan SUV maker’s journey

August 7, 2024
Autojournal car race

Get ready for the biggest RACE show this December in Nigeria

August 12, 2024
From style to sustainability: How Geely Auto is shaping the future of luxury vehicles

From style to sustainability: How Geely Auto is shaping the future of luxury vehicles

October 25, 2024
Oyo State Governor gifts Saheed Osupa Toyota Prado SUV worth ₦70M 

Oyo State Governor gifts Saheed Osupa Toyota Prado SUV worth ₦70M 

August 22, 2023

EDITOR'S PICK

2024 Kia EV9

Ready to rumble: Kia’s 2024 EV9 takes on dominant Rivian’s electric SUV

July 5, 2023
VOYAH – DREAM EV by Saglev

Voyah Dream EV review: The game-changing MPV for performance and sustainability

March 1, 2025
Elon Musk Tesla CEO

Elon Musk’s $56 bn pay package approved amid Tesla’s tough year

June 17, 2024
BMW

BMW imported 8,000 cars with banned Chinese parts, Senate report finds

May 20, 2024

About

Auto Journal Africa is the leading online and print magazine for automobiles in Africa.

Follow us

Recent Posts

  • Landmark auto summit to spotlight Nigeria’s local assemblers and future growth potential
  • Munich Auto Show: Europe battles tariffs and chinese surge with cheaper EVs
  • One in four cars sold in South Africa in August 2025 was a Toyota
  • Red Bull’s Verstappen breaks F1 speed record with fastest lap in history

Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Tools
  • For Sale

© 2023 Auto Journal

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa

© 2023 Auto Journal

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In