FUNTI's daily electric motorcycle market brief for September 14, 2026: raw material prices, overseas market regulation and China export data, compiled from public sources for importers, distributors and fleet operators.
FUNTI MARKET INTELLIGENCE · September 14, 2026
① Today's Highlights
- China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) reported on September 10 that China exported 1.01 million vehicles in August 2026, the third consecutive month above one million. Cumulative exports in the first eight months reached 7.153 million units, already exceeding the whole of 2025; the industry expects full-year 2026 exports to top 10 million units. The domestic market remained under pressure, with August sales of 1.701 million units, down 24.2% year-on-year, and first-eight-month sales of 13.162 million units, down 21.8%; exports have become automakers' "lifeline." (Source: CAAM / Caixin, September 10–11)
- Mexico has released a draft emission standard for new petrol motorcycles (PROY-NOM-175-SEMARNAT-2026), setting limits on total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and requiring an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system, with a 180-day transition period after formal publication. During the transition, valid home-country certification reports, US EPA certificates or EU/Japan accredited compliance documents will be accepted. Mexico is a major two-wheeler market in Latin America; higher barriers for petrol motorcycles are a structural positive for exporters entering with e-motorcycles. (Source: Mexico SEMARNAT / WTO notification)
- In Q1 2026, China exported 7.2 million electric two-wheelers, up 68.2% year-on-year, with total export value of about USD 4.2 billion; e-motorcycle exports alone exceeded RMB 23 billion, becoming the main growth engine. This growth outpaced both China's overall goods export growth and EV export growth in the same period. (Source: GACC / industry association compilation, September 8)
② Raw Materials & FX
- Copper: LME copper closed around USD 14,226/t on September 11, up about 0.31%; it hit a record high of USD 14,779/t on September 8 and fell back to USD 14,233/t on September 10 after US copper tariffs came in below expectations. Citi reiterated a 0–3 month target of USD 15,000/t; LME copper inventories fell 275 tonnes on September 11. (Source: LME / Eastmoney / Cngold)
- Aluminium and nickel: LME 3M aluminium closed at USD 3,256.5/t on September 11, down 0.55%, within a range of USD 3,232.5–3,308/t; LME nickel closed at USD 16,525/t, down 0.60%, while SHFE nickel main opened overnight around RMB 125,300/t. Base metals were broadly weak. (Source: Antaike / SMM, September 14 research)
- Lithium carbonate: GFEX lithium carbonate main contract traded RMB 43.23 billion in turnover on September 11, with open interest down to 407,600 lots (-1,124 lots) and exchange warehouse receipts at 48,714 lots (-550 lots). Markets were closed over the September 12–13 weekend, with no new quotes before the September 14 open; open interest and warehouse receipts both edged lower. (Source: Antaike lithium daily, September 11)
- FX: The RMB central parity against the USD for Monday, September 14, will be published at 9:15 and was not yet available when this brief was produced. The interbank FX market was closed over the weekend; China Merchants Bank's USD spot selling rate held steady at RMB 673.20 per USD 100 on September 12–13, a usable reference for export settlement. (Source: China Merchants Bank / CFETS)
③ Overseas Markets
- Vietnam's e-motorcycle market has entered a price war: Honda cut the suggested retail price of the UC3 by VND 22 million to VND 56.5 million, and dropped the ICON e: to VND 20.5 million; Yamaha cut the NEO to VND 36.9 million (a VND 13 million reduction). The Honda UC3 uses an LFP battery, offers up to 120 km of range per charge and supports fast charging. Japanese brands are fighting back against Chinese brands with "price cuts + technology upgrades," shifting terminal competition in Vietnam from channels to price and technology. (Source: Vietnamese media, July 14)
- In Q1 2026, Chinese electric two-wheelers held market shares of 62% in Vietnam, 57% in Thailand and 53% in Indonesia, with export growth to Southeast Asia ranging from 78% to 217%. Meanwhile Indonesia raised its local-content (TKDN) requirement to 40%, making localisation the key variable ahead. (Source: institutional compilation, September)
- Export growth is moderating: data from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products shows China exported 9.08 million electric two-wheelers in January–April 2026, up 25.5% year-on-year, with export value of USD 2.64 billion, up 31.6% — slower than the 68.2% seen in Q1, worth tracking into Q2 and beyond. (Source: CCCME)
FUNTI · Taizhou Fangxiang Technology Co., Ltd.
Daily electric motorcycle market brief for importers, distributors and fleet operators. Figures are compiled from public market sources and industry associations; verify before commercial use.
