There’s one vehicle in the US that you can currently buy for under $20,000, and it’s about to go extinct. In China, another EV just landed for under $5,000.
Meet the Bestune Pony EV, a $5,000 EV for China
Chinese electric vehicles are “far superior” to those in the US, according to Ford’s CEO Jim Farley. Lucid’s interim CEO, Marc Winterhoff, warned just last week that China is “on a different planet” when it comes to EV tech, software, and innovation.
With another EV launching for under $5,000, China is proving again how far the industry has come over the past few years.
Bestune launched the new Pony EV, priced from just 34,900 yuan, or just about $4,900. The company was known as Besturn, but FAW rebranded the series as an affordable, mainstream brand in 2018.
The new Pony, not to be confused with Honda’s iconic Pony, is an updated version of the mini electric car, which launched in China last May. Since launching, FAW has sold over 100,000 models.
The 2026 Bestune Pony keeps its boxy, kei car-like design. Added LED lights and funky two-tone color schemes give it a playful, fun look.
At just 3,000 mm long and 1,500 mm wide, the new Pony EV is even smaller than BYD’s smallest (and best-selling) electric car, the Seagull, at 3,780 mm long and 1,715 mm wide.
Inside, the electric car features a relatively minimalist setup with a digital cluster, basic air conditioning, and radio/Bluetooth, as well as parking sensors. Higher trims offer upgrades like a 10.1″ smart infotainment and Deepseek intelligent assist.
Powered by a 42 hp rear motor and 18.11 kWh LFP battery, the Pony EV provides a CLTC range of up to 222 km.
It’s available in five trims with prices ranging from 34,900 yuan ($4,900) to 45,900 yuan ($6,300). All five feature a driving range of up to 222 km CLTC.
Would you buy the Pony EV for under $5,000 in the US? It doesn’t only come in pink. You can get it in blue, green, yellow, and more. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.
Meanwhile, in the US, the last new vehicle on the market for under $20,000 is the Mitsubishi Mirage. In June, its average transaction price was about $18,500.
Source: CarNewsChina, FAW
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