The Netherlands ranks ninth as a near-term, export destination for U.S. automotive aftermarket parts and eleventh as an export destination for U.S. automotive original equipment, according to the International Trade Administration’s 2017 Automotive Parts Top Market Report. With more than 8.3 million registered cars and an average of 487 cars per 1,000 capita, the automotive market in the Netherlands remains popular. The Dutch government abides by strict environmental policies and safety regulations and encourages the use of electric mobility. U.S. companies taking these measures into account will find opportunities on the Dutch market, which is receptive to U.S. products.
Summary
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As a member of the European Union, both EU and national legislation apply. There are no barriers to trade so far. U.S. tariffs on imports of European steel and aluminum and the possibility of a higher tariff on car imports may trigger counter tariffs on imports of U.S. products to the European Union.
Market Entry & Barriers
Market Trends & Demand
The market for electric and hybrid cars is experiencing a rapid increase in popularity. According to “nederlandelektrisch.nl” there were over 132,000 registered electric cars in September 2018. Compared to the year before, this is an increase of nearly 10 percent. As a result, the number of charging points has grown more than 500 percent from 6,000 in 2013 to almost 37,000 public and 93,000 private charging points in 2018.
One of the newest developments is autonomous driving. According to research conducted by KPMG, the Netherlands is the most suitable country in Europe for autonomous driving. Cars with completely autonomous driving systems are currently being tested on the Dutch roads.
Other driver assistance growth areas include: remote control parking, forward/reverse collision warning with autonomous brakes, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Other technologies in high demand include 360 degree cameras, keyless-go-systems, and automatic transmissions.
Electric mobility remains the largest growth market with potential in charging points and electric engines. Although demand for electric mobility has increased in 2017, the rate of increase has slowed slightly, due to a change in fiscal regulation by the Dutch government. As of January 2016, the lower additional tax rate of 4 percent only applies to electric cars. Other ecofriendly cars, including hybrids, no longer benefit from a lower additional tax. In a market where interest in car customizing continues to grow, opportunities also exist for U.S. manufacturers of chip tuning, turbo and exhaust systems, body wrapping, spray paints and wheel adjustments.
Netherlands