BUSINESS

China E-Bike Sales Plunge 38% as Holidays, Tougher Safety Rules Hit Demand

Published: Mar. 12, 2026 11:35 p.m. GMT+8

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Workers assemble electric two-wheelers in Jinhua, Zhejiang province. Photo: VCG

Domestic sales of electric two-wheelers in China plunged 37.9% year on year to 2.99 million units in February, as holiday disruptions and a rocky transition to stricter national safety standards weighed heavily on consumer demand.

The sharp contraction reflects the growing pains of an industry forced to overhaul its supply chains and product designs to comply with new regulations aimed at reducing fire risks, leaving price-sensitive buyers hesitant amid rising costs and temporarily awkward vehicle features.

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Domestic sales of electric two-wheelers in China fell 37.9% year on year in February 2026 to 2.99 million units, impacted by holiday disruptions and stricter safety standards.
New regulations since September 2025 increased costs and complicated designs, causing consumer hesitation and declining demand.
Market leaders remain Aima (28.4%), Yadea (15.1%), and Tailg (12.9%), while Ninebot’s share grew to 9.3% in February; Ninebot is expanding production capacity for future growth.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Aima Technology Group Co. Ltd.: Aima Technology Group Co. Ltd. is one of the traditional giants in China's electric two-wheeler market. In February, it maintained a top-three position with a market share of 28.4%. This indicates its strong presence despite a challenging market experiencing a significant sales slump.

Yadea Group Holdings Ltd.: Yadea Group Holdings Ltd. is one of China's traditional giants in the electric two-wheeler market. In February, the company held the second-largest market share at 15.1%, following Aima Technology Group Co. Ltd. Yadea, along with other established players, is navigating the challenges of new national safety standards that have impacted sales and demanded product design overhauls.

Tailg Technology Group: In February, Tailg Technology Group ranked among the top three electric two-wheeler manufacturers by market share, holding 12.9%. This was amid a period of significant market disruption due to new national safety standards imposed in September 2025, which led to a substantial decline in domestic sales. The company, alongside other traditional giants, maintained its position despite the industry's struggles to adapt to these new regulations.

Ninebot Ltd.: Ninebot Ltd., a smart technology-focused company, achieved the fourth position in China's electric two-wheeler market in February, with a 9.3% share. This marks a significant 2.7 percentage point increase year-on-year. The company is actively expanding its production capacity by building a new smart e-bike factory in Zhuhai, projected to boost its total annual capacity to 11 million units.

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What Happened When

September 1, 2025：: China implemented a revised national safety standard for e-bikes.

December 1, 2025：: Sale of noncompliant e-bike models was banned in China.

December 2025：: Citic Securities published a report describing the market reaction to new e-bike standards as 'transitional pain.'

Full year 2025：: Ninebot's market share rose 1.8 percentage points to 6.9%, the largest increase among China's top 10 domestic e-bike sellers.

January 2026：: Domestic sales of electric two-wheelers in China fell 3.6% year on year to 3.46 million units.

January 21, 2026：: Ninebot responded to investor inquiries, stating it is building a smart e-bike factory in Zhuhai that will gradually begin production in 2026.

February 2026：: Domestic sales of electric two-wheelers in China plunged 37.9% year on year to 2.99 million units. Traditional giants Aima, Yadea, and Tailg ranked first, second, and third in monthly market share, while Ninebot's share climbed to 9.3%.

AI generated, for reference only