China Low-speed Electric Vehicle (LSEV) Industry Report, 2020-2026

According to National Bureau of Statistics, the output of electric bicycle in China in 2019 hit 27.08 million units, up 6.1% yr-on-yr. The figure amounted to 25.48 million units from Jan 2020 to Oct. 2020, up 33.36% yr-on-yr. The figure is expected to be 30.58 million units by 2020. The market will further expand with the popularization of shared electric bikes. 

Electric bicycle

Characterized by low carbon and environmental protection, flexibility, and high performance cost ratio, the electric bicycle is widely favored by people from middle and small cities, as well as rural areas. However. the electric bicycle market presented a downturn due to unclear standards in the last two years. And then, the market recovered with the release of new standards, i.e. the compulsory national standard of Safety Technical Specification for Electric Bicycle (GB17761-2018), which has been formally implemented since April 15, 2019. According to National Bureau of Statistics, the output of electric bicycles in China in 2019 hit 27.08 million units, up 6.1% yr-on-yr. The figure amounted to 25.48 million units from Jan 2020 to Oct. 2020, up 33.36% yr-on-yr. The figure is expected to be 30.58 million units by 2020. The market will further expand with the popularization of shared electric bikes.

As for industry competition, the electric bicycle industry faces a new round of reshuffling since the release of the new national standard of electric bicycles in 2019. On the one hand, it is difficult to adapt to a new national standard for over-standard manufacturers’ core indices such as technology, quality, and safety performance. Suppressed by policy, these enterprises will be squeezed by market share and even be obsoleted. On the other hand, benefiting from the new policy, industry leading brands represented by Yadea obtain new market growth space due to its advantages in technology, quality, capacity and capital.

According to annual production scale and technology ability, existing enterprises are classified into three echelons. In the future, market occupancy of enterprises from the first and second echelons will continuously grow (enterprises from the first echelon present faster growth speed), while enterprises from the third echelon will be gradually obsoleted.

Electric tricycle

As of now, China has not made any regulations on electric tricycle yet, expect for Technical Requirement on Electric Tricycle for Delivery (Exposure Draft) released by State Post Bureau in Apr. 2016. Electric tricycle for delivery occupies large share in tricycle industry, showing great reference significance in the industry.

Boosted by fastened urbanization progress, demand on electric tricycle from second-tier and third-tier cities surged. Output of electric tricycle in 2015 approximated 12.67 million units in 2015, presenting market stagflation. From 2016 to 2019, production and sales volume of electric tricycle in China continuously declined affected by factors of environmental protection, price increase and local control, output of electric tricycle decreased to 9.82 million units. The declining trend will continue, but the market demand will not disappear soon due to price advantage.

China starts late in electric tricycle industry. Stimulated by fast industry development, number of electric tricycle enterprises surged in recent years. At present, China has over 500 electric tricycle brand enterprises. Large-scale enterprises include Huaihai, Jinpeng, Haibao, Bird, and Besway.

Four-wheeled low speed electric vehicle

The four-wheeled low speed electric vehicles are not built based on the prototype of a traditional sedan, but developed from the prototype of a golf cart. Without a standard on this kind of vehicle in China, Chinese manufacturers mainly design the vehicle by referring to EU and Japanese standards, namely, satisfying the requirements of small size, light weight, and low max speed.

There is no standard for four-wheeled low speed electric vehicles. In Mar. 2019, the Technology Department of MIIT published nine compulsory national standard plan programs including Technical Condition of Four-wheeled Low Speed Electric Vehicle applying for project initiation. The related standard is forecasted to be released in 2021.

Since 2010, the four-wheeled low speed electric vehicle market experienced wild development due to the demand from fourth-tier and fifth-tier cities and rural areas, and the output peaked at 1.34 million units in 2018, but dropped to 1.27 million units in 2019 affected by policy adjustment from the state and main producing districts like Shandong.

The market was expected to rebound with the establishment of a national low speed electric vehicle standard in 2021. However, it will continue to decline due to the impact of A00 class electric vehicles such as Wuling Hongguang MINI EV, and the transformation of many low-speed electric vehicle vendors.

On Jul. 24, 2020, Wuling Hongguang launched the new A00 class new energy Hongguang MINI EV at the Chengdu Auto Show. The MINI EV features 120 km to 170 km of driving mileage and 100km/h of max speed, with selling price of merely RMB 28,800 to RMB 38,800. Sales volume of the MINI EV in Jul. 2020 amounted to 7,348 units, and further to 15,000 units in Aug. 2020, making it become the first MINI EV with sales volume exceeding 10,000 units worldwide. The MINI EV will give critical strike to four-wheeled low speed electric vehicle market.

Viewed from market competition, large-scale enterprises include Hebei Yujie, BYVIN, Shandong Shifeng, Tangjun Ouling, Weifang Ruichi, Hantour, Lichi, and Baoya, which are primarily distributed in Shandong, Hebei and Jiangsu. Meanwhile, many vendors are adjusting their strategies based on market change and policy requirement, looking forward to manufacturing A00 class or above electric vehicles via qualification enhancement.

China Low Speed Electric Vehicle Industry Report, 2020-2026 highlights:

• China low speed electric vehicle industry (definition, classification, and development trend);
• China low speed electric vehicle subdivision market (industry standard, related policy, market scale, competition pattern and development trend of electric bicycle, electric tricycle, low speed electric vehicle and field vehicle);
• Related parts market (competition pattern and vendor comparison of battery, motor, motor controller, and BMS markets);
• 18 major vendors including Yadea, AIMA, Sunra, BYVIN, Jinpeng, Jiangsu Daojue, Hebei Yujie, Shandong Shifeng, Tangjun Ouling, Fulu Vehicle Industry, Letin, Hantour, Lichi, Weifang Ruichi, Shandong Deruibo and Baoya (profile, revenue, major product, R&D, manufacturing base and technology feature)