Electric vehicles priced under 100,000 yuan are getting increasingly competitive, will you still consider purchasing fuel cars?

The 2026 Chengdu Auto Show is still in full swing.

However, one signal is clear enough: electric vehicles priced below 100,000 yuan are no longer "commuting toys", and have begun to compete seriously for family users.

On the first day of the auto show, the AION UT 530 CATL version launched a limited-time fixed price of 85,800 yuan, directly putting forward the slogan of "new mainstay for families"; SAIC Volkswagen's new plug-in hybrid mid-size sedan ID.ERA 5S offers 5 models for selection, with the official guide price range of 89,900-119,900 yuan; the Dongfeng Aeolus L8Y, which was originally priced at 100,900-119,900 yuan, starts at a limited-time welfare price of 91,900 yuan.

In addition, Jetta's first pure electric vehicle Jetta M6 made its official debut, targeting young family users, and the industry predicts its price will be within 100,000 yuan; the Chery Fengyun T7 will be launched on August 26, with a pure electric range of 600km and a pre-sale price starting from 109,900 yuan, and its official launch price is expected to drop below 100,000 yuan.

Of course, models under 100,000 yuan that have been verified by the market, including Leapmotor A10, Geely Xingyuan, BYD Yuan PLUS and AION i60, are still among the highlights of the auto show.

Three years ago, what could you get with a budget of 100,000 yuan? A "license-plate occupying car" with a range of just over 300km, barely enough space, and configurations cut to the minimum possible.

Now the situation has completely changed.

1. Chengdu Auto Show: 100,000-yuan electric vehicles collectively "compete fiercely" for family users

As we all know, the Chengdu Auto Show is the main battlefield for high-volume-selling models. This year, the lineup of new electric vehicles priced below 100,000 yuan is visibly dense.

First of all, the AION UT 530 CATL version is not a simple facelift, but a full new upgrade. Equipped with a 56.6kWh battery from leading battery manufacturer CATL, it delivers a range of 530km. Calculated based on a 30km daily commute, it does not need to be charged for half a month.

More importantly, its space performance is outstanding: with a wheelbase of 2750mm, three adults sitting in the rear row will not feel crowded, and the rear seats can be laid flat to expand to a fully flat 1600L cargo space. This is no longer just the standard of a car for picking up kids and buying groceries, but a "proper vehicle" that can support the whole family's road trips.

Photo / AION UT 530, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

The configuration list of Aeolus L8Y is also surprising. It has a wheelbase of 2775mm, a 61.83kWh battery, a range of 535km, and supports 3C fast charging that replenishes 30% to 80% of power in 20 minutes. The vehicle is equipped with a 14-speaker audio system, an independent sound field for the main driver's headrest, a cold and warm box, and a dual AI large model infotainment system. It was unthinkable in the past that these configurations would appear on a 90,000-yuan vehicle.

Photo / Dongfeng Aeolus L8Y, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

The Volkswagen ID.ERA 5S is the first mid-size plug-in hybrid sedan under the Volkswagen brand equipped with the urban NOA function, with a wheelbase of 2766mm, a CLTC pure electric range of 160km, and a total range of at least 2000km on a full tank of fuel.

The new vehicle is also equipped with cloud-sense intelligent temperature-controlled massage seats made of maternal and infant grade seat materials. The front seats support heating, ventilation and 10-point massage functions, the passenger seat can be laid back 145 degrees to instantly enter a fully reclined mode, and the rear seats are also equipped with heating functions.

Photo / Volkswagen ID.ERA 5S, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

The Jetta M6 made its debut at the auto show and opened blind booking, with a 66-yuan deposit deductible for 2000 yuan of the final payment. It has a wheelbase of 2820mm, a space utilization rate of 91.3%, a CLTC range of 555km, and is equipped with the Horizon Journey 6M chip that supports urban + high-speed NOA.

As the first pure electric model after the Jetta brand's refresh, its price will most likely fall below 100,000 yuan. Jetta wants to make a hit, so its pricing must be very competitive.

Photo / Jetta M6, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

The Chery Fengyun T7 also appeared at the auto show, with a pre-sale price starting from 109,900 yuan, and will be officially launched on August 26. Equipped with a 65.05kWh battery, it delivers a CLTC range of 600km, and is fitted with an integrated cabin-driving 8775 chip and the Falcon 500 driving assistance system. Its orders exceeded 16,700 units in 9 days of pre-sale, and its official launch price will most likely drop below 100,000 yuan.

Photo / Chery Fengyun T7, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

Models that occupy the best timing, geographical advantage and market support in terms of price also come from the battery swapping track. At the Chengdu Auto Show, one of the reasons for the huge popularity of the ARCFOX booth is the ARCFOX Beta S3, which is priced starting from 59,800 yuan.

Photo / ARCFOX Beta S3, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

Who can refuse a B-segment car priced at less than 60,000 yuan? What's more, it can be fully recharged via battery swapping in 99 seconds. Therefore, the number of paid orders for ARCFOX Beta S3 exceeded 10,000 units within 2 hours after its launch, and the cumulative pre-sale orders exceeded 30,000 units. Obviously, this popularity has continued to the hot Chengdu Auto Show.

Electric vehicles under 100,000 yuan have changed from "no competitive players at all" to "every model wants to compete for the market".

2. From inside to outside, 100,000-yuan electric vehicles are getting stronger

Their competitiveness does not only lie in low prices. With the superposition of three factors: falling battery costs, maturing technologies and upgrading consumption, their product power has been comprehensively improved.

The most intuitive change is the expanding space. For example, the AION UT priced at 85,800 yuan has a wheelbase of 2750mm, the Aeolus L8Y has a wheelbase of 2775mm, and the Jetta M6 directly has a wheelbase of 2820mm.

Five years ago, these were all dimensions of B-segment cars, and their prices may have exceeded 200,000 yuan. Now you can get them for less than 100,000 yuan, with no crowding for three people in the rear row, and the trunk can hold all the luggage for a family trip.

The range is breaking through, and the battery brands are getting more high-end. Fengyun T7 has a pure electric range of 600km, Jetta M6 has a range of 555km, AION UT has a range of 530km, more importantly, it is equipped with the battery brand that ranks first in global vehicle installation volume.

Three years ago, a 100,000-yuan electric vehicle with a range of more than 400km was considered excellent, but now 500km is just the passing line. Battery prices have fallen sharply for two consecutive years, with the average export battery price dropping by about 28% in 2025, and continuing to drop by 12% in 2026. Larger capacity and more high-end battery packs have finally been installed in the chassis of 100,000-yuan vehicles.

Intelligent driving functions are being popularized to lower price segments. Leapmotor A10 is equipped with a lidar in a 60,000-yuan vehicle, and the top trim priced at 86,800 yuan allows users to enjoy urban NOA; Jetta M6 is equipped with the Horizon Journey 6M chip that supports high-speed and urban navigation assistance; Volkswagen ID.ERA 5S is the first model under the Volkswagen brand to open the urban NOA function.

Photo / Leapmotor A10, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

Two years ago, these configurations would cost at least 200,000 yuan, and no one dared to imagine that a car with a lidar could be bought for less than 100,000 yuan.

Charging speed is increasing. Aeolus L8Y supports 3C fast charging, which replenishes 30% to 80% of power in 20 minutes; Leapmotor A10 supports 16-minute fast charging; Fengyun T7 also has 3C fast charging capability.

The biggest fear of 100,000-yuan electric vehicle owners in the past was "charging for an hour", which is now being shortened to "the time for a cup of coffee". Of course, if you buy a battery-swappable model, the time to replenish power from empty to full is as fast as 99 seconds, even faster than refueling a gasoline car.

Photo / ARCFOX Beta S3 completes battery swapping in 99 seconds, Source / Screenshot from New Energy View on the Internet

In addition, the design and texture of 100,000-yuan electric vehicles are also evolving. For example, Jetta M6 adopts the "bamboo charm aesthetics" design language, integrating 16 bamboo element details into the interior and exterior, with 100% soft wrapping in the front row, and cloud-sense zero-pressure seats fully equipped with electric adjustment, ventilation, heating and massage. The Aeolus L8Y focuses on a "0 formaldehyde 0 benzene" cockpit, with full massage, ventilation and heating functions for the main and passenger seats, and also equipped with a cold and warm box.

When 100,000-yuan electric vehicles start to focus on aesthetics, health and comfort, who can still nitpick on them?

Consumers' choices speak for themselves. Leapmotor A10 delivered 100,000 units 135 days after its launch; Geely Xingyuan firmly ranks first in its segment with 800,000 cumulative sales; ARCFOX Beta S3 became an instant hit upon launch...

From space to range, from intelligent driving to charging, from design to safety, 100,000-yuan electric vehicles have changed from "making do" to "pursuing perfection". It is not a cheap substitute for gasoline cars, but a category that is growing independently.

3. Will it make you forget gasoline cars?

Data does not lie. In May 2026, gasoline cars completely withdrew from the top 10 domestic passenger car retail sales list. In that month, the retail penetration rate of new energy vehicles reached a historical high of 62.9%, while the share of gasoline cars shrank to 37.1%.

Behind this achievement, pure electric vehicles under 100,000 yuan have made indispensable contributions.

Geely Xingyuan sold 38,751 units in a single month, becoming the sales champion among cars priced below 100,000 yuan; Leapmotor A10 ranked second with 22,306 units sold in