越降价，车越贵？中国汽车均价已到顶峰

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing price war in the Chinese automotive market, highlighting the paradox of declining prices alongside rising average vehicle prices due to market structural changes and shifts in consumer preferences [4][5]. Group 1: Price War and Market Dynamics - In 2024, 227 car models in China experienced price reductions, with average price drops of 18,000 yuan for new energy vehicles and 13,000 yuan for fuel vehicles, representing declines of 9.2% and 6.8% respectively [4]. - Despite the price war, the average retail price of passenger cars increased from 151,000 yuan in 2019 to 186,000 yuan in the first half of 2024 [4][5]. - The automotive industry’s profit margin fell to 4.3% in 2024, down from 7.8% in 2017, which is lower than the 6% profit margin of downstream industrial enterprises [4]. Group 2: Market Structure Changes - The market for fuel vehicles is experiencing a "two extremes" scenario, where the sales share of low-end models (5-10 million yuan) dropped from 26.8% in 2019 to 13.5% in 2024, while high-end models (above 300,000 yuan) increased from 6.2% to 10.3% [5]. - The overall sales of new cars priced above 200,000 yuan increased from 2.15 million units in 2019 to 6.99 million units in 2024, a growth of 3.25 times, while sales of cars below 200,000 yuan decreased by 670,000 units [5]. Group 3: Future Trends and Predictions - By 2025, the average price of passenger cars is expected to decline, with projections showing a drop to 172,000 yuan in Q2 and 169,000 yuan in July, an 8,000 yuan decrease from 2024 [6]. - The decline in average prices is attributed to a slowdown in the high-end fuel vehicle market and the impact of "old-for-new" policies, which are revitalizing the mid-to-low-end market [6][7]. - The market share of vehicles priced above 200,000 yuan is projected to continue decreasing, while the share of vehicles priced below 100,000 yuan is expected to rise [7]. Group 4: Impact of New Energy Vehicles - The average price of new energy vehicles is projected to decrease from 184,000 yuan in 2023 to 161,000 yuan in 2025, driven by supply chain maturity and an increase in high-end model sales [5]. - The share of new energy vehicles in the 300,000-400,000 yuan segment rose from 14.4% in 2021 to 39.8% in 2024, indicating a shift towards higher-end electric vehicles [5]. Group 5: Autonomous Brands and Market Competition - Several domestic automakers have launched high-end brands, with models priced between 700,000 and 1,000,000 yuan achieving significant sales milestones shortly after launch [8]. - The demand for traditional luxury vehicles is expected to decline, with autonomous brands potentially filling the gap left by high-end fuel vehicles [8].