The European Union will press ahead with hefty tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, the EU executive said on Friday, even after the bloc's largest economy Germany rejected them, exposing a rift over its biggest trade row with Beijing in a decade.

The bloc approved tariffs of up to 45% on EVs made in China, defying pleas from some European auto executives who fear retaliation from Beijing.

The EU conformed its decision to raise tariffs on Chinese EVs, leading to worries this might raise trade tensions.