Introduction: Growth Against the Odds
In 2025, China’s electric two-wheeler market continues to deliver high growth despite mounting macroeconomic and structural pressures. Slowing growth in total retail sales of consumer goods, a declining natural population growth rate, and sustained high lithium carbonate prices have all placed pressure on both demand and production costs.
Under normal circumstances, such a combination of “weak demand + rising costs” would suppress market expansion. Yet China’s electric two-wheeler industry has proven remarkably resilient — signaling a fundamental shift in growth logic. The market is no longer driven by volume expansion alone, but by technology upgrades, product value enhancement, and refined operational efficiency, with intelligent safety emerging as the key engine for growth.
Market Size and Growth Performance
According to AVC (Aowei Cloud Network) PSI production and sales data, China’s electric two-wheeler production reached 63.16 million units in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 14.8%.
However, the annual growth curve tells a more nuanced story. Influenced by the rollout of the updated Electric Bicycle Safety Technical Specification (GB 17761–2024), the market showed a “front-loaded growth, back-loaded slowdown” pattern:
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Strong momentum in the first half of the year
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Gradual deceleration in the second half
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Q4 growth turning negative at -4.4% YoY
This reflects a transitional adjustment period as manufacturers, distributors, and consumers adapt to the new regulatory framework.
Policy Impact: GB 17761–2024 Reshapes the Industry
The revised national standard was officially released on December 31, 2024, and will fully replace the old standard from September 1, 2025.
Key regulatory upgrades include:
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Enhanced battery safety requirements
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Stronger fire resistance and protection standards
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Improved charger safety and electrical protection
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Stricter vehicle speed and structural constraints
Rather than suppressing the market, the new standard is accelerating product redesign and technological investment, pushing manufacturers toward smarter, lighter, and safer electric two-wheelers.
From Scale Expansion to Quality Competition
The market’s ability to grow under pressure marks a clear inflection point. China’s electric two-wheeler industry is entering a high-quality competition phase, where:
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Safety becomes a baseline requirement
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Intelligence becomes a differentiator
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Operational efficiency becomes a survival factor
For international companies, this transition opens new opportunities — not in low-cost manufacturing alone, but in advanced components, safety technologies, smart systems, and supply chain optimization.
Looking to enter or expand in China’s electric two-wheeler ecosystem?
Viotech supports international companies with:
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China market entry strategy and regulatory mapping
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Local partner and distributor identification
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Supplier sourcing and qualification
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Technology and innovation scouting