Yijing Auto CEO Zeng Qinglin Responds to "1.8-Year Avg. EV Lifespan": Early-Stage Industry Trait; Advocates Pre-Installed Hardware to Extend Vehicle Lifecycle

Zeng Qinglin, General Manager of the Yijing automotive brand, responded to claims that the average age of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is only 1.8 years. He explained that this figure primarily stems from the rapid increase in NEV market penetration—from 20% to over 60% in just a few years—meaning most NEVs currently on the road were sold within the past two to three years. Consequently, the low average vehicle age aligns with typical early-stage development patterns of emerging industries. Zeng noted that the fast pace of technological iteration in the NEV sector often triggers consumer anxiety about purchasing a vehicle that quickly becomes outdated. However, he emphasized that certain core technologies—such as batteries and smart cockpit hardware—are gradually maturing. To alleviate "obsolescence anxiety," he recommended selecting vehicles equipped with moderately forward-looking hardware configurations at purchase—for example, an 896-line LiDAR sensor designed to support future L3-level autonomous driving capabilities—and pairing them with frequent over-the-air (OTA) updates to extend both the vehicle’s usable lifespan and functional relevance. According to data released by China’s Ministry of Public Security, as of the end of June 2026, the country’s total vehicle fleet reached 371 million units, with NEVs accounting for 13.19%. In the first half of 2026 alone, 5.195 million new NEVs were registered, representing 49.42% of all newly registered vehicles. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) previously clarified that the "1.8-year average vehicle age" results from statistical methodology and does not reflect an actual average vehicle replacement cycle of merely 1.8 years among owners.