Zhongxin Finance, March 23 (Ge Cheng) Since entering March, the news of new energy vehicle price increases has continued. Recently, electric bicycles have also come to "join in the fun".
Photo by Ge Cheng, Xiaopeng City Exhibition Hall of Huaxi Live in Wukesong, Beijing
Since March 14, in a week, Tesla has "officially announced" three price increases, with an amplitude of tens of thousands of yuan; on March 21, Xiaopeng Automobile announced a price increase of up to more than 30,000 yuan. Some netizens said: "Reverse cutting leeks? ”
On March 21, Xiaoniu Electric announced that it would increase the price of all lithium battery products on April 1, ranging from 200-1000 yuan. "Buy it quickly, don't wait!" Become the most replied to by netizens.
What is the reason for the price increase?
Since 2022, new energy vehicles have faced several rounds of cost pressure. First the "core" is desolate, then the "lithium" mang, and the recent is the "nickel" demon, which can be described as "a wave of uneven, a wave of rise".
In early March, Lun Nickel staged an "epic" market, once breaking through $100,000 per ton. With the calming of the market, on March 21, the price of Lun nickel still reached 47,000 US dollars per ton, and before the outbreak of the market, Lun nickel was only 20,000 US dollars per ton, and the price rose more than doubled.
According to the research report of CICC, the price of Lun nickel rose from 20,000 US dollars / ton to 50,000 US dollars / ton, and the cost of nickel raw materials for 8 series new energy vehicles with 60KWH of single vehicles increased by about 10,000 yuan.
In addition to nickel, another important material for power batteries, lithium, is also in a rapidly rising market.
Taking the price of lithium carbonate, the main material of power batteries, as an example, in early 2021, the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was only 50,000 yuan / ton, and at the end of the year, it rose to 290,000 yuan / ton, an increase of up to 480% in just one year.
Entering 2022, the increase in lithium carbonate has not slowed down at all. On March 17, the comprehensive quotation of the battery-grade lithium carbonate market has risen to 480,000-520,000 yuan per ton.
According to UBS Evidence Lab, at present, the battery cost of most manufacturers is about to be equal to that of gasoline powertrain, and power batteries account for 25%-40% of the total cost of electric vehicles, making them the most expensive electric vehicle parts. The rapid rise in the price of power battery materials has caused the production cost pressure of car companies to increase sharply.
In addition to battery materials such as nickel and lithium, the shortage of chips and the decline in subsidies have also become factors in the rapid rise in the price of new energy vehicles. Starting from 2021, some vehicle-grade chips have risen from tens of yuan to thousands of yuan, and their value has risen by more than 100 times. The decline of subsidies directly leads to the price increase of new energy vehicles to the consumer level.
Car companies and dealers: it is difficult to increase prices and withdraw cars without price increases
Since 2021, problems such as rising prices of battery materials and chip shortages have made car companies miserable.
Since March 14, new energy vehicle companies such as WM, BYD, Tesla, Xiaopeng, Nezha, and Zero Run have successively issued price increase announcements. Price increases range from 1,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. Tesla raised the price of domestic Model Y models three times in a week, and the price increase reached tens of thousands of yuan.
In October 2021, the Nanjing Auto Show ushered in the flow of visitors. Photo by Yang Bo
In addition to price increases, some car companies have chosen to discontinue some low-end models to make up for the loss of material price increases. Dong Yudong, CEO of the Euler brand, said in response to the cessation of orders for its black and white cat models: "After the sharp rise in raw materials in 2022, some models have brought huge losses to the company, and the loss of black cats has exceeded 10,000 yuan. ”
At the same time, some new energy vehicle 4S stores are also facing the situation of "no car to sell". After visiting a number of new energy vehicle 4S stores, many sales staff told Zhongxin Finance that in addition to the exhibition car, it has basically been sold.
"You see that green exhibition car, the first two days was also booked by the customer, just moved to that side, is preparing to clean up, usually, this color of the car is difficult to sell." The salesman pointed to the exhibition car in the corner and told reporters.
"According to the customer's request, now the doors are locked, the deposit has been paid, and we can't do anything." For the reporter's request to see the car again, the sales staff reluctantly refused.
Expert: The resumption of supply of raw materials will alleviate price increases
In response to the problem of rising raw material prices, the competent departments and relevant enterprises are also actively offering suggestions and suggestions to promote the normal development of the industry.
At the recent symposium on the operation of the lithium industry and the price increase of upstream materials for power batteries, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology asked upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to strengthen the docking of supply and demand, work together to form a long-term and stable strategic cooperation relationship, jointly guide the rational return of lithium salt prices, increase efforts to ensure market supply, and better support the healthy development of strategic emerging industries such as new energy vehicles in the mainland.
Some power battery manufacturers also said that they will adopt a diversified procurement plan to cope with the rise in raw materials. The relevant person in charge of Hive Energy said in an interview with Zhongxin Finance: "At present, the rise of battery materials is a big trend, and we have always paid more attention to the problem of supply chain, so we also have our own layout in advance. ”
Some car companies have "gone elsewhere" and used alternative fuel solutions to solve the problem. Li Shufu, chairman of Geely Holding Group, has proposed that the legal status of methanol new clean renewable energy should be clarified; the access and operation management of methanol vehicles should be strengthened; the continuous innovation of methanol fuel and methanol vehicle technology should be encouraged; and it is suggested that the development and application of a variety of clean energy technologies should be supported by adding major national science and technology projects.
In response to the question of whether the price of materials will continue to rise, Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the Association, said that the price increase of raw materials for new energy vehicles is a cyclical behavior, and the current general increase in vehicle prices is also a reflection of the rise in raw material prices. With the recovery of the supply environment at the industrial end of raw materials, the unfavorable factors of price increases will be alleviated to a certain extent. (End)
Source: China News Network