HK Stock Market Move | Automobile stocks lead the decline, with a wave of price increases sweeping through the automobile industry chain, and prices of new energy vehicles are clearly on the rise.

Car stocks lead the decline, as of press time, Xpeng Motors-W (09868) fell by 4.37% to HKD 63.45; Great Wall Motor (02333) fell by 2.11% to HKD 13.02; LI AUTO-W (02015) fell by 1.7% to HKD 72.2. On the news front, since entering 2026, the price of lithium carbonate has rebounded significantly, combined with tight supply of automotive-grade storage chips and long-term industry competition, driving the automotive industry into a cost-driven pricing cycle. Since mid-April, the domestic tire industry has seen the second round of price increases this year, with more than 70 tire companies issuing "price increase notices" as of April 20. It is reported that the rise in costs has led to a wave of price increases for car companies. According to incomplete statistics from Economic Observer, more than 15 new energy vehicle companies have announced price increases or reductions in terminal discounts this year, with price increases ranging from 2000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. Data shows that from January to March 2026, the average price of passenger cars in China increased by 15,000 yuan, 15,000 yuan, and 7,000 yuan respectively compared to the same period last year, with particularly noticeable uptrends in the prices of new energy vehicles.