August Sees Expanded Auto Trade-in Subsidies: Xi’an Offers Up to ¥13,000, Chongqing Up to ¥20,000 for Scrappage-to-New Deals

Starting in August, multiple cities—including Xi’an, Chongqing, Jinan, Qingdao, Changsha, and Yangzhou—have updated their vehicle trade-in subsidy policies. In Xi’an, individuals purchasing new energy vehicles (NEVs) will receive a subsidy of 2% of the invoice price, capped at RMB 10,000. For NEVs launched in 2026, an additional RMB 2,000 is offered for models priced between RMB 90,000 and RMB 150,000, and an extra RMB 3,000 for those above RMB 150,000, allowing a maximum subsidy of RMB 13,000 per vehicle. Purchasers of used cars can receive a subsidy of 1.5% of the vehicle price, up to RMB 4,000. The policy runs from August to early October, requiring that the new vehicle be registered under the applicant’s name, the old vehicle’s owner and the new vehicle buyer be the same person, and the invoice date fall within the policy period. Chongqing adjusted its subsidy standards effective August 1. Buyers of new vehicles priced between RMB 150,000 and RMB 300,000 receive RMB 6,000, while those purchasing vehicles over RMB 300,000 get RMB 8,000. Scrapping an old vehicle to buy a new NEV qualifies for a subsidy of 12% of the new vehicle’s price, capped at RMB 20,000; for new fuel-powered vehicles, the subsidy is 10%, with a maximum of RMB 15,000. Motorcycles and e-bikes are also included, receiving a 10% subsidy up to RMB 1,500 per unit. Local “purchase-new” subsidies cannot be combined with local scrappage or trade-in subsidies. Jinan launched a RMB 50 million auto subsidy program on August 20, offering tiered cash payments and consumption vouchers based on the pre-tax purchase price: buyers of vehicles under RMB 150,000 receive RMB 1,000 in cash plus RMB 2,000 in vouchers, while those spending over RMB 500,000 get RMB 5,000 in cash. The policy has no household registration restrictions, does not require local license plate registration, and eliminates the pre-reservation step. Qingdao has allocated RMB 250 million for its trade-in program, merging scrappage-upgrade and trade-in applications into a single queue on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Changsha continues the province’s trade-in mechanism, removing strict sequencing between old vehicle transfer and new vehicle purchase. As long as transaction documents are dated within 2026 and the old vehicle was originally registered under the applicant’s name, individuals can apply via the UnionPay Cloud QuickPass or Xiangyi Ban platforms. Yangzhou has allocated RMB 20 million in purchase subsidies, valid through the end of December or until funds run out, covering both fuel-powered and new energy passenger vehicles purchased from local participating dealers by individual consumers. Across these cities, applicants must be the same natural person who owns the old vehicle, purchases the new vehicle, and applies for the subsidy, and must provide complete transaction documentation. Most cities use online application systems, requiring submissions through channels designated by local commerce bureaus, with subsidies distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. National trade-in subsidies generally cannot be combined with local trade-in incentives, so consumers must choose one to claim.