Ford's Electric Bronco Hits China as NEV Sales Soar to Record

Ford has officially launched its new electric Bronco in China on December 19, 2025, starting at RMB 229,800 ($32,640), marking a bold move to recapture market share in the world's largest EV market. This comes amid projections of record-breaking December NEV retail sales of 1.38 million units, underscoring China's unstoppable momentum in electric mobility despite subsidy adjustments. Meanwhile, Xiaomi's acquisition of L3 autonomous driving test licenses signals intensifying tech competition.

Ford's Electric Bronco: Specs and Strategic Push

Ford's electric Bronco targets China's premium off-road EV segment with both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants, emphasizing urban-friendly unibody design over traditional body-on-frame rivals.

Key specs include:

• Dimensions: 5,025 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, 1,825 mm high; 2,950 mm wheelbase.
• EREV Variants (starting RMB 229,800): 1.5L turbo range extender (110 kW), dual motors (130 kW front, 180 kW rear), 0-100 km/h in 5.8s, 43.7 kWh LFP battery (220 km CLTC pure EV range), total range 1,220 km.
• BEV Variants (starting RMB 259,800): Dual motors (130 kW front, 202 kW rear), 0-100 km/h in 5.3s, 105.4 kWh LFP battery (650 km CLTC range).

Limited-time incentives offer up to RMB 12,000 trade-in subsidies and RMB 1,600 cash rebates, aligning with pre-sale pricing.

Competitor Comparison

Ford's unibody approach prioritizes on-road comfort, differentiating it from rugged competitors like GWM's Tank series and BYD's Bao 5.

China NEV Market Hits Record December Projection

The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) forecasts 1.38 million NEV retail sales for December 2025, achieving a 60% penetration rate—the highest ever. This tops previous records despite a 12.7% year-on-year drop in overall passenger vehicle retail to 2.3 million units.

• Weekly Trends: Week 1 averaged 42,000 units/day (-32.3% YoY); Week 2: 67,000 (-16.8% YoY); Week 3 projected 73,000 (-15.2% YoY); Week 4: 93,000 (-4.9% YoY).
• Factors: Normalized demand post-November subsidy tweaks, year-end promotions, and anticipation of purchase tax subsidy phase-out.

Manufacturers remain cautious, with 80% of leaders targeting flat or slightly higher sales vs. November.

Other Key EV Developments

• Xiaomi Secures L3 License: Xiaomi Auto gains China's L3-level autonomous driving road test plate, boosting its tech credentials amid rivals like XPeng and NIO.
• Neta Auto Bankruptcy Progress: Struggling Neta (哪吒汽车) selects an operating trustee for restructuring, with monthly fees capped at RMB 100,000, signaling potential revival.
• Musk on ICE Demise: Elon Musk declares non-autonomous fuel cars obsolete, aligning with China's EV shift.

Why This Matters: Global Implications

Ford's China-focused electric Bronco exemplifies foreign automakers' adaptation to local preferences for EREVs and LFP batteries, where PHEVs/EREVs dominate ~50% of NEV sales. With December's projected 1.38 million NEV units, China solidifies its lead—over 50% global EV share—pressuring Western firms to accelerate electrification. Xiaomi's L3 milestone intensifies the autonomy race, potentially exporting advanced ADAS tech worldwide.

Looking Ahead

Expect Ford to ramp Bronco deliveries in Q1 2026, leveraging incentives to challenge GWM and BYD. CPCA's record forecast validates China's resilient EV demand, but subsidy normalization could temper 2026 growth to 15-20% vs. prior 30% surges. Watch Neta's restructuring and Xiaomi's L3 rollout for domestic innovation sparks.