Le Monde: China’s Electric Vehicles Become Obsolete Too Quickly

Le Monde, in a report published on Monday, examined why electric vehicles (EVs) in China are increasingly becoming short-lived. The publication notes a recurring trend in the Chinese EV market: models are updated at an accelerated pace. New cars purchased just months ago often become outdated almost immediately, as newer models with superior specifications and lower prices rapidly enter the market. As a result, vehicle depreciation occurs at an unprecedented rate. Consumers are hesitant to invest in higher-priced models, while automakers face growing difficulty in cultivating long-term premium brands.

Excessive Update Cycles Lead to Rapid Obsolescence

Xpeng Motors serves as a prominent example.

Take the Xpeng P7, launched in 2020. At the time, it was considered a key competitor to Tesla’s Model 3 in the Chinese market. However, over the past few years, its sales have declined sharply: 1,881 units sold in June, 1,533 in July, and 1,863 in August.

The Xpeng G9, initially positioned to rival Tesla’s Model Y, now sells fewer than 2,000 units per month in China.

A similar pattern is evident with the Xpeng X9, which saw its sales drop by 87% within seven months.

Li Auto has encountered comparable challenges. The Li L9, introduced in 2022 at a starting price of around 600,000 RMB, once achieved monthly sales of approximately 15,000 units. Despite the release of updated versions, current monthly sales remain below 4,000 units.

Li Auto’s earlier model, the Li ONE, followed a similar trajectory. After launching in 2020 and becoming one of the best-selling models in 2021, it quickly lost relevance by 2023 as newer, more affordable models with enhanced features emerged.

Le Monde observes that this reflects a defining characteristic of China’s EV market: a vehicle may be technologically advanced today, but could be obsolete within one or two years—or even months.

Causes Behind the Rapid Obsolescence

Le Monde identifies the primary drivers behind this phenomenon.

The Chinese EV sector is marked by intense competition, with numerous manufacturers continuously introducing new models. As soon as one company launches a new vehicle, competitors swiftly follow with improved versions. These newer models often feature not only lower prices but also more advanced batteries, chips, sensors, and intelligent driving systems. Consequently, vehicles that fail to keep pace with rapid development risk being forced into deep discounts or withdrawn from the market altogether—contributing to the short lifespan of many models.

Citing Chinese media reports, Le Monde notes that some automakers now update their models every six months, and in some cases, conduct hardware refreshes every three months.

Consumer Dissatisfaction Mounts

However, the speed of updates has triggered mounting consumer frustration.

Some owners who recently purchased a vehicle find that a new version is unveiled shortly thereafter. Even more troubling, certain sales representatives previously assured buyers that no model refresh would occur in the near term. Yet, within two months, a new iteration appears—with upgraded features and reduced pricing. In some instances, due to frequent changes in underlying technology platforms, older models cannot receive software or hardware upgrades. As a result, consumers who paid a premium for a new car find themselves unable to access the latest technologies soon after purchase.

This issue has led to a surge in complaints. In 2025, a major Chinese automotive complaint platform recorded approximately 39,000 disputes related to model obsolescence—a figure 82 times higher than the previous year.

The “Orphan Vehicle” Phenomenon

Le Monde highlights a more serious consequence: if an automaker collapses, vehicles sold by that company may become what industry insiders refer to as “orphan vehicles.” This can leave owners unable to secure insurance coverage. More critically, some vehicles rely entirely on smartphone applications for functions such as unlocking doors. Should the manufacturer cease operations and discontinue software services, owners may lose the ability to access their own vehicles.

According to a June report by a Shanghai-based consulting firm, 23 Chinese EV and plug-in hybrid manufacturers were either undergoing bankruptcy proceedings or liquidation. The number of affected vehicle owners is estimated at around 850,000.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1878252576962572/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any institutional position.