Tesla(US:TSLA) 高工锂电·2026-01-26 10:23Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of a new wave of low-interest financing options introduced by Tesla and followed by other domestic automakers in China, highlighting the challenges in the electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly in the price range of 150,000 to 200,000 yuan [2][4][5]. Group 1: Financing Strategies - Tesla has introduced a 7-year low-interest financing plan in China, with rates as low as 0.5% annually for models like the Model Y, effectively translating to an annualized rate of about 0.98% [3]. - Other companies such as Xiaomi, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Geely have also launched similar 7-year low-interest or low monthly payment plans, typically structured around down payment thresholds and limited-time promotions [4]. - The financing strategies are primarily aimed at higher-priced models, with Tesla's low-interest plan mainly covering vehicles priced above 200,000 yuan [6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The current financial strategies are not merely aimed at boosting sales but reveal a structural signal where both government and corporate incentives are pushing demand towards the 150,000 to 200,000 yuan range, which is a challenging segment for electric vehicle adoption [5][10]. - The latest data from the China Passenger Car Association indicates that the 150,000 to 200,000 yuan price range is the only segment where the penetration rate of new energy vehicles is not expected to increase from 2024 to 2025, remaining at 43% [11]. - In contrast, the penetration rates for other price segments, such as 100,000 to 150,000 yuan and 200,000 to 300,000 yuan, have seen increases to 51% and 60%, respectively, indicating a divergence where policies and corporate strategies are pushing upwards while market structure is slipping in the middle [12]. Group 3: Implications for Battery Manufacturers - The complexity for battery manufacturers is increasing as the market dynamics shift, with the focus not just on the volume of new energy vehicles sold but also on which price segments are driving growth and the corresponding battery configurations [13]. - If the 7-year low-interest financing leads to more transactions in the 200,000 to 300,000 yuan range, there will likely be a higher demand for larger battery capacities and faster charging configurations, benefiting mid-to-high-end models [13]. - Conversely, if the 150,000 to 200,000 yuan segment continues to be squeezed from both ends, battery manufacturers may face a scenario of scale growth with limited kWh elasticity, leading to increased cost and price pressures on the supply chain, particularly for battery cells and materials [14].