Just recently, I was checking prices for a mid-range electric mountain bike. You know, those bikes that help you climb hills without breaking a sweat? Well, the price tag for one of those bikes was enough to buy a brand-new electric car. Not just any electric car, but one straight from China.
This surprising cost difference truly highlights a major shift. In China, electric cars are becoming incredibly affordable. We’re talking about a new electric car that costs just 4,500 euros. And get this: it even comes with an Artificial Intelligence assistant built right in.
Meet the Bestune Pony EV, an Electric Car Under 5,000 Euros
Auto industry leaders are certainly taking notice. Jim Farley, who leads Ford, has called Chinese electric vehicles “much superior” to what North America produces. Marc Winterhoff, the interim CEO for Lucid, went even further last week. He said China is “on another planet” when it comes to electric vehicle technology, software, and new ideas.
China keeps showing how far its car industry has come in recent years. They just launched another model priced under 5,000 euros.
Bestune introduced their latest Pony EV. Its starting price is only 34,900 yuan, which is about 4,500 euros. Bestune used to be known as Besturn. FAW, its parent company, rebranded it in 2018. The goal was to make it an affordable brand for many people.
The new Pony isn’t connected to the classic Pony car from Hyundai. It’s actually an updated version of a small electric car that first came out in China last May. Since then, FAW has already sold over 100,000 of these vehicles.
China Takes Cues from Japan with Kei Cars
The 2026 Bestune Pony keeps its small, square look. This design is much like the “kei cars” found in Japan. It features LED lights and comes in fun two-tone color schemes. This gives it a playful and unique appearance.
The new Pony EV is tiny. It measures just 3,000 mm long and 1,500 mm wide. That makes it even smaller than BYD’s popular Seagull electric car. The Seagull is 3,780 mm long and 1,715 mm wide. For comparison, the BYD Dolphin Surf in Europe is 3.99 meters long.
Inside, the car is simple and clean. It has a digital dashboard, basic air conditioning, and a radio with Bluetooth. You also get parking sensors. If you choose a higher version, you can enjoy a 10.1-inch infotainment screen. These models also include the Deepseek intelligent assistant.
4500 Euros for a Range Around 200 km
This little car runs on a 42-horsepower motor in the back. It uses an 18.11 kWh LFP battery. On a single charge, it can travel up to 222 km, according to the CLTC test cycle. If we look at the WLTP cycle, which is closer to real-world driving, the estimated range would be between 170 and 180 km.
The Bestune Pony EV is available in five different versions. Prices start at 34,900 yuan (about 4,500 euros). The most expensive version costs around 45,900 yuan (approximately 5,900 euros). All five versions share the same maximum range of 222 km.
This brings up a big question for car makers in many markets, including countries where I was checking e-bike prices. Would people buy the Pony EV for less than 5,000 euros if it were available elsewhere? The high cost of electric cars is often a major hurdle for buyers. So, could this Bestune Pony truly find a market where EVs are still seen as expensive?
As you consider that thought, know this: the Pony EV isn’t just offered in pink. You can also pick it up in shades of blue, green, yellow, and many other colors!