The Chinese EV price war is expected to continue into 2026.

KatadataOTO – Chinese car brands are competing to present new products with the most affordable prices for Indonesian consumers. Throughout 2025, the competition has been very fierce. 

BYD, which previously played in the Rp 300 million and above segment,  suddenly launched the electric car BYD Atto 1. The Electric Vehicle (EV) was sold for around Rp 195 million.

This proved to make BYD Atto 1 sales skyrocket. The wholesales figure, or the distribution of the electric car from the factory to the dealer, even reached 9,000 units.

On the other hand, Jaecoo also started selling cars in the Rp 200 million to Rp 300 million range in the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment, namely the Jaecoo J5 EV.

Photo: KatadataOTO

Both have a 5-seater configuration, but its size is larger and it is Rp 10 million more expensive than the top-tier BYD Atto 1.

Seeing the price war happening towards the end of the year, analysts believe this phenomenon will continue until 2026.

“Affordable Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the answer for consumers who want to switch, but are hindered by price and the bleak economic conditions in 2025,” said Bebin Djuana, an automotive analyst, when contacted by KatadataOTO recently.

The option of electric cars with competitive prices, which are even starting to rival Low Cost Green Cars (LCGC), has become a special attraction for many consumers.

Especially amidst economic conditions that have not fully recovered throughout this year. In addition, Bebin noted that disasters have occurred in several places within the country.

Then, interest in EVs in Indonesia began to increase along with the challenge of a new car price war in China's domestic market.

“So the surplus units there can meet the desires of our consumers. Thus, there is a match,” Bebin affirmed.

For your information, the choice of electric cars with a price range of Rp 100 million and above is now increasingly varied.

Photo: KatadataOTO

If in the past there were only the Wuling Air ev and Seres E1, now the segment is enlivened by the BYD Atto 1 and the newcomer Changan Lumin EV, which debuted at the Gaikindo Jakarta Auto Week or GJAW 2025.

The Changan Lumin EV is a small-sized electric car, sold for around Rp 179 million on the road in Jakarta and is priced lower than the Atto 1.

Then there is the Jaecoo J5 EV, an electric-powered SUV with a 5-seater configuration. This lineup of affordable electric car models will be locally assembled, so their competitive prices are expected to be maintained.