Sales of Low-Priced EVs Plummet Sharply

[Market Watch] In 2026, sales of low-priced electric vehicles have collapsed dramatically.

Key Data: Retail Sales of New Energy Vehicles Priced Below RMB 80,000 Plunge Nearly 50% Year-on-Year

From January to April 2026, domestic retail sales of new energy vehicles priced below RMB 80,000 dropped by nearly 50% year-on-year, with micro pure-electric vehicles seeing a staggering 70% decline in retail volume. Former bestsellers such as the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV and Chery QQ Ice Cream now sell only around 500 units per month, far below their prior-year levels of tens of thousands.

Strategic Shift: The End of the Low-Price Dividend Model

Weakening consumer preference for low-priced EVs reflects a market transition from "price sensitivity" to "value sensitivity." Range, safety, and intelligent features have become core purchase considerations—low pricing alone can no longer win over buyers.

Industry Impact: Dragging Down Overall New Energy Vehicle Market Performance

The slowdown in low-priced models directly caused domestic retail sales of new energy passenger vehicles to decline by double digits year-on-year in the first four months of 2026, totaling only 2.758 million units. The industry has entered a period of deep adjustment.