Small Electric Donkey to raise prices in April? Clerk: No notification received, "Oil prices have gone up, raw materials are following suit."

After jackets, underwear, and sanitary pads, will two-wheel electric bikes also be getting more expensive?

Recently, discussions about “two-wheel electric bike prices being about to be increased” have drawn attention. On March 30, China News Finance & Economic News (Zhongxin Jingwei), posing as a consumer, conducted on-site visits to five electric bicycle stores in Xicheng District, Beijing, including Yadea, Aima, NIU, Ninebot, and others. Multiple store clerks said that they have not yet received any clear notice of a price increase, but electric bike prices in April may be adjusted upward.

A clerk at an electric bike store in Xicheng District (Photo by Zhou Yihang, Zhongxin Jingwei)

Inside a NIU electric bike store in Xicheng District, a clerk said that now some models can get discounts when ordering on JD.com or Taobao, and on top of the listed price, consumers can receive coupons ranging from 200 yuan to 400 yuan, depending on the actual amount received. The promotion runs until the end of March. The coupons are valid across stores in Beijing. After consumers claim coupons online, they can pick up their bikes at a nearby store.

When asked whether electric bikes will rise in price in April, the clerk said that since March, most models in the store have already had their prices raised. For example, the price of NIU’s MT Sport 2026 model 48V 30A lithium battery version has increased from 4,999 yuan to 5,099 yuan, up by 100 yuan.

“The main reason for the price increase is that the vehicle materials have changed. Previously, the entire vehicle materials were plastic; now the plastic area of the entire vehicle is no more than 5%.” Regarding the future price trend, the clerk said they are not yet sure, but because raw material prices such as aluminum-magnesium alloy fluctuate significantly and raw material costs have risen, there is still a possibility that the price of the complete bike could be increased.

A Yadea store in Xicheng District offered discount promotions for some models. For instance, the Yadea C09 model’s original price was 2,599 yuan, and it has already been reduced to 2,399 yuan since March 8. The store clerk said that customers can place orders through the Taobao platform, receive 100 yuan off coupons, and redeem at the store to pick up their bikes before the end of March.

Regarding whether they have received a notice of a price increase, the clerk said, “When oil goes up, these raw materials like tires also go up, so prices will definitely be affected.” He said, “How much it will be after the price increase is still unknown. We haven’t had a meeting yet, and the price increase may be in April.”

Staff at an Aima electric bike store in Xicheng District and at Ninebot electric bike also said they have not received any notice that prices will increase soon. A staff member at a Ninebot store said that this year electric bike prices are indeed higher than last year, mainly because after the implementation of the new national standard, material costs are higher than last year. As for whether prices will rise again in the future, they said it is still hard to say.

In another Yadea electric bike store in Xicheng District, the clerk said that since oil is more expensive, shipping costs are also rising. The cost per bike needs to increase by 50 yuan—80 yuan. He predicted that in April, some models may see price increases, but at the same time there will also be one or two special-offer models.

On the 30th, a media report said that affected by rising raw material prices, starting in April, Ninebot’s recommended retail price discount level for some of its models will be reduced moderately, with the discount amount reduced by 100 yuan. On the afternoon of March 30, China News Finance & Economic News (Zhongxin Jingwei), again posing as a consumer, called Ninebot’s Securities Department to ask about the situation. A staff member said that it is currently unclear whether the business department has any plans to raise prices, and the specific timing and magnitude are also not yet known; everything will be based on the product prices in April.

By: Zhou Yihang

Editor: Lin Wansi

Responsible Editors: Wei Wei, Li Zhongyuan

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