Chinese E-Bike Makers Hike Prices as Subsidies End, Material Costs Climb

(Yicai) April 7 -- Many Chinese electric bicycle manufacturers have hiked prices amid relevant national subsidies for trading in consumer goods ending this year and rising raw material costs, with the latter extending the impact of the new national standards that took effect late last year.Ninebot, Yadea Group, AIMA, TAILG Technology Group, NIU, and other e-bike makers simultaneously raised retail prices at the start of this month, Blue Whale News reported, citing multiple dealers. Most increased prices by between CNY100 and CNY300 (USD14.53 and USD43.59).China removed e-bikes from this year's national consumer goods trade-in policies. Consumers who scrapped old models and bought a new one priced at CNY1,500 (USD217.95) or more received a CNY500 subsidy last year, with an additional CNY100 for lead-acid battery models.In addition, prices of metals, including aluminum, copper, and iron, have jumped more than 40 percent, while those of chemical raw materials such as plastic pellets have surged over 80 percent, Yadea said in a price increase letter to dealers. The Wuxi-based firm's factory costs across all product lines rose by more than CNY300 per unit starting April 1, it added.The buyers of more than 12.5 million e-bikes applied for the trade-in program in 2025, up around eight times from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.E-bike sales in China fell 38 percent in February from a year earlier, market researcher AVC reported.Some manufacturers launched limited offers to ease dealers' pressure, with Ninebot discounting nearly 50 models by up to CNY1,200 this month. A Yadea dealer in Shenzhen said in-store prices have not yet risen, with the lowest promotional price at CNY2,399, but e-bikes stocked from April 1 onward are sold at higher prices.Many customers found the new prices too high despite the discounts, leading to monthly sales dropping about 40 percent, a Yadea dealer in Guangzhou told Yicai. Peers from AIMA and TAILG in Dongguan and Shanghai reported similar figures.China launched new e-bike national standards on Sept. 1, raising the maximum weight of bikes with lead-acid batteries to 63 from 55 kilograms to improve their range while keeping the speed limit at 25 kilometers per hour, with compulsory blockage of the engine in case of speeding.The new standards require manufacturers to install battery packs and control units that stop working in case of modifications, use plastic materials accounting for no more than 5.5 percent of the total weight, choose non-metallic materials, including seats, battery compartments, and decorative components with higher fire resistance, and clearly write their products' suggested service life on plates and certificates.Editor: Martin Kadiev