The automaker estimates its struggling China business will cost $5 billion, but it isn't giving up on the country yet.
The EU Commission had imposed duty rates on Chinese-made EVs in a bid to encourage domestic manufacturing. Tesla was subjected to the lowest rate of 7.8%, while other automakers such as SAIC Motor faced tariffs as high as 35%. These rates are in addition to a 10% standard import tariff.
Tesla is challenging the European Union in court over the tariffs imposed on its Chinese electric vehicles despite getting
Chinese EV makers BYD, Geely, and SAIC contested EU's import duties at Court of Justice. Tesla excluded from tariffs, gaining only 7.8% tax.
The European automotive industry faces rising tensions as BMW and Tesla Shanghai file lawsuits against the European Commission
Tesla's legal challenge is in response to the EU introducing tariffs at the end of October of 7.8 percent on Tesla's China-made vehicles. The bloc has also set tariffs of up to 35.3 percent on other China-made EVs. The new tariffs come on top of a 10 percent standard import tariff that was already in place for electric vehicle imports into the EU.