Two dealership groups in China representing BYD, the leading car brand, have ceased operations since April.

Xingqi Group in Liaoning province halted vehicle deliveries and customer service, affecting over 60 buyers.

Qiancheng Holdings, which ran about 20 BYD showrooms in Shandong province, also closed its stores, with over 500 customers joining online rights groups to seek action.

The automotive sector faces broader challenges, including direct-to-consumer sales models by EV makers, reduced servicing needs for EVs and hybrids, and slowing consumer spending.

As of April, stock levels reached 3.5 million vehicles, equivalent to 57 days of inventory, the highest since late 2023.

Qiancheng cited changes in BYD’s dealer policies and tighter local bank lending as reasons for its financial struggles.

These closures highlight the challenges facing China’s auto dealerships amid shifting consumer preferences and technological change.

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🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s EV market faces growing pains after explosive growth

China’s electric vehicle market is transitioning from hypergrowth to a more mature phase, creating financial strain throughout the supply chain despite record sales numbers.

After achieving a 42% surge in EV sales in 2024 (reaching nearly 11 million units), analysts predict growth will moderate to just 20% in 2025, intensifying competition among dealers 1.

Market penetration of new energy vehicles has exceeded 50% for seven consecutive months, signaling a maturing market where further growth becomes more challenging 2.

This slowdown is directly impacting dealerships like those selling BYD vehicles, as they face compressed margins and oversupply issues despite representing China’s leading brand.

BYD’s own profit margins have been under pressure, having previously shrunk to 3.3% from 5.8% as government subsidies were phased out, illustrating the financial challenges present even for market leaders 3.

2️⃣ Dealership economics fundamentally challenged by EV transition

Traditional auto retail business models are being structurally disrupted by the EV transition, creating existential challenges for dealerships worldwide, not just in China.

EVs require significantly less maintenance than combustion vehicles, eliminating a crucial profit center for dealers who historically derived substantial revenue from service departments 4.

The shift toward direct-to-consumer sales models by EV manufacturers has bypassed traditional dealer networks, with brands like Tesla pioneering this approach and Chinese companies following suit 1.

High inventory levels in China (3.5 million cars or 57 inventory days) mirror conditions seen during previous automotive industry crises, suggesting dealership consolidation may be inevitable 5.

3️⃣ Intense competition creating winner-take-most dynamics

China’s EV market is experiencing brutal competition that’s creating clear winners and losers, with even established players facing significant pressure.

BYD and Tesla dominate the global BEV market with 15.4% and 12.6% share respectively, while dozens of smaller manufacturers fight for the remaining market 6.

Price wars have been particularly damaging for dealership profitability, as manufacturers slash prices to maintain market share – BYD dealers reportedly had to reduce prices by thousands of yuan to move aging inventory 4.

This competitive environment is especially challenging for dealership groups like Qiancheng Holdings and Xingqi Group, who lack the financial resources to weather prolonged price competition.

Historical analysis shows that during similar periods of industry transformation, weaker players are often eliminated 7.

Recent BYD developments

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