China 2026: pure-electric passenger cars need an export licence (HS 8703 80 10 90)
MOFCOM/MIIT/GAC/SAMR Announcement No.54 (26 Sep 2025): from 1 Jan 2026, BEVs with VIN under HS 8703801090 need an export licence. Filing stays on the 2012 auto/moto export-order rules; 2026 online window opened 29 Sep 2025.
From 1 January 2026, China applies export-licence control to pure-electric passenger cars that carry a VIN and are powered only by a traction motor — reference HS 8703 80 10 90.
Legal basis: MOFCOM / MIIT / GAC / SAMR Announcement No. 54 (2025), published 26 September 2025. Enterprise qualification, filing and licence issuance follow the existing auto/moto export-order notice 商产发〔2012〕318号. This is not a destination-country duty change.
Operational follow-up (商办贸函〔2025〕408, 27 Sep 2025): the 2026 online filing system opened 29 September 2025 (`ecomp.licence.org.cn`). Firms planning BEV passenger-car exports in 2026 must file; the form’s vehicle type field is filled as passenger car.
Desk takeaway: a Ningbo/Tianjin BEV booking for Central Asia or the Gulf still needs the Chinese export licence on the exporter’s side before the shipping window. Hybrid / ICE SKUs are outside this HS scope — do not paste “licence required” onto every FOB sheet.
*Sources: MOFCOM Announcement No.54 (2025-09-26); 商办贸函〔2025〕408. Confirm the current HS on the commercial invoice.*