On the first day of collective price increases for electric vehicles, an on-site visit to Aima and Ninebot stores: prices increased by up to 400 yuan, with some dealers saying sales have already dropped by 30% this year.

This article source: Times Finance Author: Wu Jiamin, Lin Xinlin

                    Photo source: Pexels

“Mini scooters” have collectively increased in price.

Recently, news that several leading electric two-wheeler brands will raise their retail prices starting April 1 has continued to spread. On the morning of April 1, Times Finance visited offline stores of major electric bicycle brands in Beijing, including Yadea, Ninebot, AIMA, Niu, and others, and found that some electric vehicles’ prices had already been adjusted upward. The overall price increase ranged from 100 yuan to 400 yuan.

Among them, some models from Niu and Ninebot had already been priced higher, while Yadea and AIMA had not yet implemented the price increase, pending the final adjustment plans from the manufacturers.

The price hikes are driven by multiple factors, including soaring raw material costs and the implementation of additional provisions under the new national standard. However, since last year, the market sales of electric vehicles have continued to decline. Several dealers told Times Finance frankly that currently, the profit per electric vehicle is about 200 to 300 yuan, with a gross margin of approximately 10%.

Price hike on the first day: Niu and Ninebot’s price adjustments implemented; expected maximum increase of up to 400 yuan

On April 1, Times Finance visited multiple major brand stores in Beijing and found that some brands’ price tags had already been updated, while others were still awaiting final notices from the manufacturers.

Among them, the price adjustment at AIMA stores was the most significant. At an AIMA store on Dianmen Street in Xicheng District, sales staff directly said, “Some models have increased by as much as 400 yuan.” They explained that this round of price adjustments covered most models, with basic entry-level electric bikes increasing by about 200 yuan, and mainstream lithium battery models increasing by approximately 250 to 350 yuan.

Ninebot’s price adjustments were relatively moderate.

At another Ninebot store on Dianmen Street, staff were replacing price tags, and some models had already been adjusted as of April 1. The sales staff introduced a model, saying, “(This one) has already increased by 100 yuan. It used to sell for 4599 yuan, and now it’s priced at 4699 yuan online.” Overall, the main models at this store saw price increases mainly in the 100 to 200 yuan range, while high-end smart models increased by about 300 yuan.

Along with the price increases, the purchase subsidies and discount coupons previously offered by various brands have recently been discontinued.

Staff at the Ninebot store mentioned that online coupons had been canceled, which effectively increased the final consumer price. They also said that the manufacturer has already slightly raised prices and that future adjustments will depend on market reactions; further increases are possible. Although promotional discounts might be offered during major sales events like 618 or Double Eleven, prices are not expected to decrease within this month.

Another major brand, Yadea, is also advancing with price adjustments.

A sales representative at a Yadea store revealed that although prices had not officially increased on the morning of April 1, the distributors would hold a meeting that day—“After the meeting, prices will definitely go up. I got the news yesterday. Procurement costs have already increased, and parts like tires and batteries are also rising in price.” The sales staff estimated the increase to be around 200 to 300 yuan.

                    Some Niu models had already completed price increases by the end of March. Photo by Times Finance

As for Niu, often called the “two-wheel Tesla,” some stores had already carried out a round of price hikes. At a Niu store on Dianmen Street in Beijing, staff said that online prices had already been adjusted on April 1, and the offline store had just updated the price tags. “We just changed the labels today, and nearly all models have increased by 100 yuan.” They also revealed that some Niu models had previously increased by 100 yuan on March 28 and 29, which was part of a phased price increase.

Market conditions for electric vehicles are weakening, with some dealers saying, “It’s hard to sell even two units a day.”

Despite the collective price hikes, the market for two-wheel electric vehicles is not very optimistic.

According to data from AVC PS&I, China’s electric two-wheeler production in 2025 is projected to reach 63.16 million units, a 14.8% increase year-over-year. However, the growth momentum has been gradually weakening since the second half of the year.

Data shows that in November 2025, domestic sales of electric two-wheelers declined by 28.7% year-over-year. In January 2026, sales fell by 3.6% year-over-year, and in February, due to the full implementation of the new national standard and the off-season effect of the Spring Festival, the decline widened further to 37.9%.

“Now, it’s hard to sell even two units a day,” a sales staff member at a mainstream brand store told Times Finance.

According to visits by Times Finance, many brand salespeople and dealers reported that current sales at many electric vehicle stores are generally sluggish. This phenomenon is caused by multiple factors. One key factor is that the new national standard, which began to be implemented gradually at the end of last year, has now been fully enforced. The new regulations on speed, range, and load capacity for models under the new standard, combined with the early clearance of old standard vehicles, have led to a phase of market hesitation.

Meanwhile, the new national standard imposes higher requirements on vehicle safety, material flame retardance, and anti-tampering systems, which have driven up per-unit costs and retail prices, suppressing demand among price-sensitive consumers.

A sales staff member at an Yadea store pointed out that the new standard models from Yadea have upgraded materials—such as fewer plastic parts, more metal components, and added features like positioning and smart functions—resulting in costs that have increased by about 200 to 300 yuan compared to last year, leading to higher retail prices.

However, with raw material prices continuing to rise, the pressure to increase prices remains difficult to alleviate.

One dealer recalled that this year’s price increases for electric vehicles are significantly larger than in previous years. “Last year, there were two or three increases, but they weren’t this big.”

Yadea explicitly stated in a price adjustment letter that the main reason for the price hikes is the sustained sharp increase in bulk raw material prices, with metals like aluminum, copper, and iron rising over 40%, and chemical raw materials like plastics increasing by as much as 80%. Sales staff and dealers also confirmed that rising raw material costs are the core driver of this round of price adjustments.

An expert in precious metals and bulk commodities research told Times Finance that on one hand, battery component prices have increased; on the other hand, the prices of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, and silver used in electric vehicle manufacturing have also risen, further increasing production costs.

This has put short-term pressure on brand terminal sales.

An employee at an AIMA store in Beijing said that since 2026, the store’s sales have declined by at least 30%. Previously, during peak seasons, monthly sales could reach over 100 units, and even in off-peak times, they could sell 30 to 40 units. This year, sales are far below those levels.

                    An AIMA store in Beijing. Photo by Times Finance

Another dealer revealed that since last year, retail profit margins have continued to decline. Currently, profit per vehicle is about 200 to 300 yuan. For entry-level models priced over 2,000 yuan, the gross profit margin is only about 10%. This has also led many brand dealers to reduce their willingness to stockpile: “The risk of unsold inventory is too high. If you can’t sell it, it’s a loss. It’s better to buy only as needed.”

Regarding future price trends, industry insiders predict that in the short term, electric bicycle prices may remain stable. However, if raw material prices stay high, further price increases are possible, though they are likely to be moderate. Some dealers also noted, “Market acceptance is currently limited, so manufacturers will be more cautious with future price hikes.”