Product classification
HS code for Electric car: 8703.80
Vehicles, with only electric motor for propulsion.
Classification of electric car under HS 8703.80
Electric cars are classified under HS code 8703.80. This code is situated within Chapter 87, which encompasses motor vehicles and their parts. Heading 8703 specifically covers motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, excluding those of heading 8702 (buses). The subheading 8703.80 was specifically created in the 2017 HS nomenclature update to provide a dedicated category for vehicles equipped only with an electric motor for propulsion. This includes Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). The classification is based on the vehicle's primary design for passenger transport (carrying fewer than ten people) and its unique propulsion system that does not involve an internal combustion engine. This classification applies regardless of the vehicle's size, from small city cars to large luxury sedans and SUVs, provided they are purely electric.
- Covers
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)
- Electric sedans and hatchbacks
- Electric SUVs and crossovers
- Electric sports cars
- Electric passenger vans (under 10 seats)
- Also under 8703.80
- Tesla Model 3
- Nissan Leaf
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
Codes often confused with 8703.80
Common mistake. Electric cars are frequently confused with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) or standard hybrids. Hybrids that use both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor are classified under subheadings 8703.40 through 8703.70, depending on whether they are compression-ignition or spark-ignition and whether they can be charged by plugging into an external source. Another common error is classifying electric freight vehicles under this code; electric vans or trucks designed for transporting goods must be classified under 8704.90. Furthermore, small electric vehicles like golf carts or snowmobiles have their own specific subheadings under 8703.10.
Top exporters and importers of HS 870380 (the code used for electric car), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 870380 (the code used for electric car) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 31% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 12% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 870380, not only electric car.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $45.2B 31% of world exports
- 2 China $36.4B 25% of world exports
- 3 Mexico $8.9B 6.2% of world exports
World total: $143.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United Kingdom $17.7B 12% of world imports
- 2 United States $16.0B 11% of world imports
- 3 Germany $11.8B 7.9% of world imports
World total: $149.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for electric car
Brazil classifies electric car under NCM 8703.80.00: HS 8703.80 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about electric car
What is the HS code for Electric car?
The HS code for Electric car is 870380 (Vehicles; with only electric motor for propulsion). The HS code for passenger motor vehicles with only an electric motor for propulsion is 8703.80.
How do I classify Electric car for customs?
Electric car is classified under HS code 870380 — Vehicles; with only electric motor for propulsion. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are hydrogen fuel cell vehicles classified here?
Yes, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are generally classified under 8703.80 because they use an electric motor for propulsion, even though the electricity is generated by a fuel cell rather than stored in a battery.
Which countries are the top exporters of electric car (HS 870380)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 870380 (the code used for electric car) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($45.2B, 31% of world exports), China ($36.4B) and Mexico ($8.9B). World exports came to about $143.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of electric car (HS 870380)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 870380 (the code used for electric car) in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($17.7B, 12% of world imports), the United States ($16.0B) and Germany ($11.8B). World imports came to about $149.4B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Electric car the same in all countries?
The base HS code 870380 for Electric car is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for electric car in Brazil?
In Brazil, electric car (HS 870380) is classified under NCM 8703.80.00.