BERLIN, June 14 Reuters BMW39;s allelectric Mini made in China is set to be hit by the highest EV tariff of 38.1 under the EU39;s provisional plans, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday, a potential terminal blow for the midrange car39;s sales prospects.

Mass production of the roughly 35,000euro 37,345 vehicle, produced by a BMW and China39;s Great Wall Motor Co Ltd joint venture, began late last year shortly after the EU launched its probe.

With production still in early days, the JV was unable to fulfil the European Commission39;s survey to the level of detail required to be classed as a company cooperating with the investigation, the source said, declining to be named because discussions are private.

Companies seen as cooperating with the EU were subject to lower tariffs of 17.421, according to a European Commission document seen by Reuters. That includes BMW Brilliance Automotive, another BMW joint venture which has produced the electric iX3 for export to Europe from China since 2021.

BMW declined to comment. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said earlier this week the tariffs were the wrong way to go, echoing concerns from other German carmakers fearful of a trade war which could end in countertariffs on cars exported from Germany to China.

The European Commission said that joint ventures producing cars in China would be subject to duties, without specifying whether more recently formed ventures might benefit from the lower 21 rate for companies that cooperated…