Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 23 (Reporters: Tang Shining, Xie Xiyao) — A notice jointly issued by China's Ministry of Commerce and four other departments on promoting the trade-in of electric bicycles in 2025 was released on the 23rd, clarifying that the trade-in program for electric bicycles will continue from January 1, 2025.

The notice states that the subsidy standards for the 2025 electric bicycle trade-in program will be reasonably determined by local authorities under the guidance of the Ministry of Commerce, in line with the previous year’s standards to ensure a smooth transition. Subsidies will be provided to individual consumers who turn in old or scrapped electric bicycles and purchase new compliant ones. Those who exchange old lithium-ion battery electric bicycles for new lead-acid battery models may receive increased subsidies.

The notice further refines and optimizes the subsidy process and methods. It encourages simplifying the qualification review and entry procedures for stores participating in the trade-in program to expand the number of eligible outlets. Efforts should be made to streamline subsidy distribution, eliminate unnecessary steps in application, review, and payment processes while ensuring fund security, speed up approvals, and shorten the time for subsidies to reach consumers. Subsidy issuance does not need to be tied to new vehicle registration. Encouragement is given to adopt instant discount methods to directly benefit consumers. Sales outlets are encouraged to provide "one-stop" services, including trade-ins, new purchases, and license assistance, for consumer convenience.

The notice also requires standardizing sales practices, optimizing old vehicle collection, and strengthening policy promotion. Participating sales enterprises or stores must commit to avoiding price hikes before subsidies, ensuring that the sales prices of trade-in models do not exceed the average transaction price of the same model in the month prior to the program. Efforts will be made to increase the number of recycling enterprises and reasonably raise the trade-in value of old vehicles to incentivize consumers to choose formal channels for scrapping old bikes.

An official from the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Circulation Development stated that next, local commerce authorities will implement the electric bicycle trade-in program under the leadership of local governments and the special task force for comprehensive electric bicycle safety hazard management.