For the price of one average new car in America, a Chinese buyer could drive home in two to five new electric vehicles
https://www.carscoops.com/author/sam-d-smith/
by Sam D. Smith
2 hours ago
China’s market includes multiple new cars priced close to $10,000.
Affordable EVs range from tiny microcars to practical hatchbacks.
There are also dozens of larger cars priced well under $20,000.
The Beijing Auto Show was the largest on record, with over 180 new cars premiering, and a total number of vehicles on display exceeding 1,400. As with any auto show, there were new concept cars and fancy design studies, but away from that, there were real cars that showcased real intent.
Above all else, it was a reminder of how fierce the competition is in China for cars and that prices there are much lower than in the US.
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Reuters reports that Kelley Blue Book shows the average price of a new car in the US in March was $51,456. Meanwhile, there are now more than 200 electric models, including plug-in hybrids, available for under $25,000 in China, according to industry website DCar.
One of the most affordable is the Geely EX2 (called “Star Wish” in China), which starts at $10,060. It was China’s top-selling vehicle (of any type) in 2025. It might be tiny, but it certainly doesn’t look austere. Even at its low price, it still has some decent features. The all-electric hatchback, which is reportedly coming to Australia this year, has a front trunk, storage spaces, and a 14.6-inch center console touchscreen with Geely’s operating system. On China’s EV test cycle, the highest-end model has a range of 255 miles (410 km).
If that’s too much, then Wuling’s Hongguang MiniEV costs even less, at $6,560. The microcar is all about minimalism and cuteness. For 2026, Wuling stretched the car to four doors and added bigger rear seats. It’s still tiny by US standards; you could fit two of the older two-door versions in the Ford F-150’s bed. The base model is capable of 62 mph (100 km/h) and has a 127-mile (204 km) range on the CLTC. Wuling also offers the slightly bigger, highway-ready Bingo Pro, starting just above $8,000 and offering a range of 250 miles (402 km).
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Then, there’s BYD. The Seagull (also known as the Atto 1, Dolphin Mini, or Dolphin Surf) starts at $10,200, establishing BYD’s foothold in the small EV market. Again, despite its entry-level positioning, the new 2026 model offers plenty of tech, including an optional lidar feature for self-driving and autonomous lane-changing, as well as faster charging, and a quoted range of 314 miles (505 km).
Cut-Price Sedans, SUVs Too
And if you’re thinking these are all too small, think again, because China offers dozens of larger models for unheard-of prices in the West, including from legacy Western automakers. Volkswagen’s Sagitar S, a compact sedan that opens at just $11,600, undercuts the US-market Jetta (MSRP $23,995) by more than half.
VW also used the Beijing show to debut the Jetta X concept, a rugged electric SUV targeting a sub-$15,000 price tag from late this year. And it’s not just VW, Toyota’s new bZ7 sedan stretches longer than a Tesla Model S yet starts at around $21,500, while domestic giants like Geely, Chery, and BYD are filling every gap in between with sedans, three-row SUVs, and pickups at prices that would barely cover a used car payment in America.
The Maxima-sized electric Nissan N7 starts from around $17,000 in China.