Chinese authorities have launched sweeping regulatory measures to curb the escalating price wars that threaten to destabilize the world’s largest electric vehicle market. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), alongside market regulators and fire safety officials, imposed stringent new mandates on all new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers, emphasizing that product safety must never be compromised for cost-cutting.
China’s once-booming EV sector now faces a critical reckoning. From a high of over 400 automakers at its peak, the industry has contracted to approximately 40 players—and that number continues to shrink. Industry insiders project that fewer than seven major brands may ultimately survive this shakeout period. I’ve tracked this market for years and have never seen such rapid consolidation.
The EV bloodbath has begun, with 400 manufacturers dwindling to 40 – and soon perhaps as few as seven survivors.
The price war, which intensified in May 2025 when BYD slashed prices across more than 20 models, has created unsustainable market conditions. BYD continues to dominate the market with 31% sales growth in the first half of 2025. Competitors quickly matched these reductions, triggering a downward spiral of thinning profit margins. High-profile casualties include WM Motor and HiPhi, both of which filed for bankruptcy amid the cutthroat competition.
Government intervention comes amid mounting safety concerns. A spike in quality issues, including a widely publicized Xiaomi SU7 crash, has prompted enhanced inspections across all manufacturers. The inspections will specifically focus on product consistency and quality verification as directed by the three government bodies. Regulators have also restricted the use of “smart driving” terminology in advertising, a response to several incidents linked to over-promised autonomous capabilities.
The current market contraction has been dubbed a “three-year elimination contest,” with analysts predicting up to 75% of existing NEV firms won’t survive. Currently, approximately one company exits the market every two months.
China’s approach mirrors recent lessons from its troubled real estate sector, where unchecked growth led to significant economic vulnerabilities. Despite the turbulence in the market, industry projections still estimate EVs will capture 35% of sales in China by 2025. By prioritizing industry stability over expansion, authorities hope to foster a more sustainable automotive ecosystem. The message is clear: the era of growth at any cost has ended, replaced by a focus on quality, safety, and long-term viability.
