Design issues dominate as China NEV quality growth slows, J.D. Power finds

The rise in quality problems among China's new energy vehicles is moderating, but issues tied to design and user experience now account for nearly 70 percent of all complaints, according to a J.D. Power study released on Thursday.

The 2026 China New Energy Vehicle Initial Quality Study shows that the industry average reached 231 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), an increase of 5 PP100 from a year earlier.

While overall issues continue to increase, the pace of growth has slowed, with defects and malfunctions showing zero growth year-on-year.

The findings suggest a structural shift in quality challenges, away from hardware reliability toward software, interface design and intelligent features.

Infotainment system issues accounted for 14.3 percent of total problems, while advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) made up 9.5 percent.

By contrast, battery and charging-related complaints declined, reflecting improvements in core electric vehicle technologies.

"Design-related problems now represent as high as 70 percent of total issues, making optimization of user interaction and intelligent system accuracy a core priority," said Sean Wang, managing director of automotive product solutions at J.D. Power China.

He added that rapid advances in battery technology have reduced charging-related concerns, while software-related issues have deteriorated notably.

The study highlights a divergence in cockpit experience. Basic usability issues — such as unresponsive touchscreens and unstable Bluetooth connections — have become more prominent, even as higher-level functions like voice recognition and in-car navigation show improvement.

In ADAS, reverse parking assistance remains a key pain point, with users reporting frequent false alerts, lens contamination and inconsistent system performance.

Consumer demographics are also reshaping quality expectations. Buyers born after 1995 accounted for 41 percent of new NEV purchasers in 2026, while post-2000 consumers represented 9 percent, triple the level seen in 2024.

However, the latter group reported significantly higher dissatisfaction, with a PP100 score of 259 — about 12 percent above the industry average.

Their complaints center on smart features, driving performance and charging convenience.

The cohort also demonstrates distinct purchasing behavior, including earlier decision-making, heavy reliance on online research and a strong preference for bold design and high perceived value.

Notably, they show low tolerance for "low price, low experience" offerings, particularly in the 100,000–300,000 yuan segment, where reported problems remain elevated and satisfaction relatively weak.

Despite rising expectations, some brands have improved both quality and design performance, particularly among newer market entrants, including Nio, Xiaomi and Voyah.

The study, first introduced in China in 2019 and modeled on J.D. Power's US Initial Quality Study, evaluates problems experienced by owners within two to six months of purchase. This year's results are based on responses from 21,177 NEV owners across 81 cities, covering 137 models from 49 brands.