Chongqing - China’s record-long 2026 Spring Festival holiday brought a surge in travel and new energy vehicle use, with busy highway charging stations reflecting the rush. On one 1,670-kilometer Tesla drive from Chongqing to Fujian, a Bridging News reporter made four charging stops at service-area stations.
That travel boom showed up clearly in highway charging data. The National Energy Administration said that in the first three days of the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, nationwide highway new energy vehicles (NEV) charging jumped 63.05% year on year—averaging 11.8 million kWh a day across 1.41 million charging sessions.
On February 16, at a highway service area, a car owner charged his vehicle. (Photo/Huxin Luo)
Rest stops become NEV overnight hubs
A few years ago, “range anxiety” and “charging headaches” loomed large for NEV drivers on long trips. This Spring Festival, those worries are steadily fading: by December 2025, 71,500 charging stations had been installed in highway service areas, covering more than 98% of service areas nationwide.
NEVs are surging in China. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said 2025 production and sales exceeded 16 million units, making up over half of domestic new-car sales. Yet the Spring Festival travel rush still brings long charging lines at highway service areas, showing more charging upgrades are needed.
That surge is reshaping highway service areas too. The Bridging News reporter observed they are becoming more multifunctional and service-oriented to meet growing NEV demand.
Once simple rest stops, highway service areas are rapidly adapting to the needs of NEV drivers. More owners now use their cars as mobile homes, parking to rest or stay overnight. As a result, many service areas are becoming temporary campgrounds, with some even offering showers and other services for overnight guests.
On his drive to Fujian, the Bridging News reporter spent the night at a highway service area and found he wasn’t alone. Nearby, other NEV owners had pulled in too, with license plates from Jiangxi and Hunan, turning the stop into a small overnight hub for travelers on the road.
NEV sales stay strong over the Spring Festival
Alongside the rise in travel activity, NEV consumption during the Spring Festival holiday remained strong.
At a Xiaomi Automobile store in Xiamen, models like the Xiaomi YU7 and SU7 were on display, with one family actively considering the SU7. Mr. Zhang, a local resident, explained that the Spring Festival is a time for family reunions, and he accompanied his child to select a car.
On February 21, at a Xiaomi Automobile store in Xiamen, Mr. Zhang and his family checked out the Xiaomi SU7 model. (Photo/Huxin Luo)
Xiaomi Automobile, a brand under Xiaomi, is particularly popular among young consumers in China. According to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, the older version of the SU7 had been discontinued, and the new model became available for pre-order in January 2026. Store staff reported that during the holiday, many customers visited the showroom to explore and inquire about models.
Next, the reporter visited a store of Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), which displayed a range of models, including the Aito. Many consumers were seen examining the Aito models.
At a HIMA store, two Aito models were displayed for consumers to experience. (Photo/Huxin Luo)
HIMA, a partnership between Huawei and automakers such as Seres, SAIC, and BAIC, shares Huawei's smart automotive technology and sales ecosystem. In January 2026, the Aito models accounted for over 70% of HIMA's total retail sales, contributing 40,012 units out of 57,915 vehicles.
The Aito M7, M8, and M9 models, all large 5-6 seat SUVs made in Chongqing, cater to family needs. Store staff noted that during the Spring Festival, Aito was the most popular model among customers, many of whom visited with their families and focused on family-friendly vehicles.
Other models from HIMA also attracted attention. Miss. Liu, a local resident, considered non-Aito models for personal use. She found that a coupe better suited her needs and appreciated the Huawei smart driving system.
At a HIMA store, Miss. Liu explored models other than the Aito series. (Photo/Huxin Luo)
Strong consumer interest in purchasing NEVs during the holiday also stemmed from the introduction of China’s 2026 trade-in policy. Jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments, the policy took effect before the holiday.
The policy outlines a nationwide, unified subsidy standard set for 2026, with subsidies linked to vehicle prices. NEVs can receive up to 8% of their price in subsidies, with a maximum subsidy of 15,000 yuan (approx. 2,171 U.S. dollars). The extended nine-day holiday further fueled consumer enthusiasm for buying cars.