车企“价格战”不断，经销商商会“喊话”：抵制“内卷式”竞争、纠治进销价格倒挂

Core Viewpoint - The automotive industry in China is experiencing a resurgence of price wars, prompting industry associations to call for a halt to this "involutionary" competition, which is primarily driven by price reductions [1][3][7]. Group 1: Industry Overview - In recent years, "price wars" have become a hot topic in the domestic automotive market, with the average price of passenger cars dropping to 170,000 yuan in April, a decrease of 21,000 yuan year-on-year [3]. - The automotive industry's profit for the first four months of this year was 132.6 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 5.1%, with a profit margin of only 4.1% [3]. - The industry is undergoing a critical transformation, with rapid development in the new energy vehicle sector, yet the overall profitability is declining due to chaotic price competition [3][7]. Group 2: Price War Dynamics - In May, BYD initiated a significant promotional campaign with discounts of up to 53,000 yuan on 22 models, leading to a ripple effect where other manufacturers, such as Chery, also launched substantial discount programs [5][7]. - The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) expressed concerns that the recent price cuts initiated by one company have led to a panic-driven price war among multiple firms, exacerbating unhealthy competition and squeezing profit margins [7]. Group 3: Impact on Dealers - The price war has severely impacted automotive dealers, with 84.4% of dealers experiencing varying degrees of price inversion, and 60.4% facing price inversions exceeding 15% [8]. - The average transaction price for passenger cars has dropped to 177,000 yuan, a decrease of 6,000 yuan year-on-year, leading to significant pressure on dealer profitability [8]. - The ongoing price competition has resulted in liquidity issues for dealers, with many facing severe cash flow constraints due to negative profit contributions from new car sales [8][9]. Group 4: Market Sentiment - A survey by the China Automotive Circulation Association indicates that dealers are adopting a cautious and pessimistic outlook for June, with 37.6% expecting sales to remain flat and 35% predicting a decline [9]. - The persistent issue of price inversion is seen as detrimental to the health of both individual companies and the overall industry, contributing to the closure of several dealer outlets in recent years [9].