CPCA's Cui Dongshu said October NEV penetration exceeded 50% across all market
tiers, with microcars at 100%, A0 small cars 91%, C-segment 73%, B-segment 69%
and A-class 50%. China's car ownership stands at 254 vehicles per 1,000 people.
With the vehicle purchase tax exemption ending and NEV tax-exemption technical
criteria being tightened, some short-range models have raised prices. Cui said a
sharp contraction of the A00 segment in 2026 would lift average selling prices,
raise purchase thresholds, shrink the addressable buyer pool and put significant
pressure on 2026 volume growth.
