sales

Why do prices go up if sales go down?

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The real estate market has started 2026 with a strange ‘photo’ that, a priori, seems to contradict the most basic laws of the market: sales fallbut prices go up. Or what is the same, thousands of fewer operations are closed in notary offices than a year ago without this apparent cooling in demand being passed on to prices, which continue to grow at the same time. double digit after saying goodbye to last year with historical data. The question in view of this duo trend is evident: What is happening? And above all, what can we expect now? Fewer homes sold. Although winter is not the time of year more dynamic For the real estate sector, the first quarter of 2026 has left a curious image: despite how tense the market is and that homes continue to be created at much more speed of which new homes are built, in Spain there are fewer houses changing hands. The purchase and sale operations chained three months downward during the start of 2026, which explains why the INE registered a 2.6% decline in the first quarter. The number: 4,713. To be precise, the INE registered 61,295 transactions of homes throughout March, 2.2% less than during the same month in 2025. If we talk about new constructions, the decline was even more pronounced: 10.2% (5.3%, if we talk about the entire quarter). In general, the aggregate for the year (January-March) is 178,473 purchases, 4,713 less than in the equivalent period of 2025. The ‘photo’ of the marketOf course, it is not the same throughout the territory. There were eight regions in which March closed with more transactions than last year, with Castilla-La Mancha in the lead; but in eight others (including some of the most populated) the trend was the opposite. In Madrid the INE recorded 2.5% fewer purchases and sales, in Catalonia the decline was 3.5% and in Andalusia 6.5%. The largest falls were recorded in the Basque Country (-11.6%) and Cantabria (-15.4%). The INE is not the only one to detect the setback. In March, the Notarial Council also registered a 4.7% puncture in transactions, more pronounced in the case of apartments. And the prices? They point in the opposite direction. He latest newsletter from the Ministry of Housing on appraisals shows that, in general, free housing became more expensive during the first quarter of the year until the residential square meter (m2) stood at 2,315.7 euros. For reference, it is 3.8% more than the previous quarter and 13.9% above what was paid a year before. In new housing, less than five years old, the increase compared to 2025 was 12.8% and in used housing (more than five years old) 13.8%. Once again, the trend was also felt in the offices of notaries. In it same statement in which it notes a general drop of 4.7% in sales in March, the sector reports a 7% rise in the cost of m2. Its balance sheet shows this apparent dissonance even more clearly: apartment transactions fell by 5.8% compared to March 2025, while prices rose by 9.7% to reach €2,332/m2; In the case of single-family homes, operations contracted by 1.1% while the cost rose by 2.2%. Year (1st quarter) Free housing (€/m2) less than five years More than five years 2020 1,640.4 1,891.5 1,632.5 2021 1,625.4 1,879.3 1,617.5 2022 1,734.0 1,980.9 1,726.7 2023 1,788.4 2,112.1 1,778.1 2024 1,865.8 2,199.3 1,855.8 2025 2,033.4 2,357.3 2,024.1 2026 2,315.7 2,685.2 2,303.8 But… Why? The first thing is to take perspective. The market may be stepping on the brakes with respect to 2025, but it continues to move at high levels if we analyze what the sector has managed since the setback that followed the brick crisis of 2008. That is, the 61,295 transactions in March may be less than those of 2025, but they are still well above the 44,664 of 2024. In fact, a year ago we were at record values that have not been seen since 2007. It is an important nuance because it shows that the drop in sales in the first quarter of 2026, as much as it may attract attention, seems to point more to a gradual slowdown than a sudden turn or change in cycle. The market gives signs, true, but they come after 2025 that closed with more than 700,000 salesthe highest figure in almost 20 years, since the bursting of the brick bubble. He last balance from the INE also shows that purchases do not suffer throughout the territory. In fact, there are regions, such as Castilla-La Mancha, Navarra, La Rioja or the Valencian Community, Galicia or Asturias, where they have grown. And the prices? Not everything is uphill. There are those who also appreciate some restraint. A recent study by Idealista shows, for example, that in the first quarter 14% of homes for sale they had to lower their price. During the same period in 2025 that percentage was 11%. Other reports specify that, beyond the general ‘photo’ provided by the Ministry of Housing, there are cities (including some capitals) in which prices have moderated. something moves. The above helps to put things into perspective, but it does not mean that the residential market is not changing. confirms it in theEconomist José García Montalvo, expert at the Pompeu Fabra University: “The slowdown in sales is one more example of a trend that is corroborated by the increase in sales time, the growing disparity between the prices that sellers want to receive and the growing limitations of buyers due to the difficulty of obtaining credits of the necessary amount for homes whose price has grown rapidly.” Ángel Talavera, from Oxford Economics, launches another reflection in elDiario: “When prices begin to rise uncoupled from rising incomes, it is likely that purchases will slow down.” The truth is that the cost of housing itself partly explains the slowdown in sales. Rentals, for example, they continue to get more expensive. And while this makes the purchase more attractive, it also … Read more

Without state aid, China feared that electric sales would plummet. Until the Hormuz crisis arrived

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It seemed that the market was retreating but, perhaps, what it was doing was taking a breath to come back much stronger. Never before in China have plug-in and electric hybrids, known as “new energy” cars, had so much weight. Last April, a new record was broken that only confirms where the future of its industry lies. Record. 61.4% of the cars sold in China last April they were “new energy” vehicles. This is the category used by the Chinese State to talk about plug-in and electric vehicles. Its market penetration is the highest in the country’s history. The figure is almost 10% higher than last year, despite the fact that sales have fallen. This means that gasoline-powered vehicles have collapsed and that the customer is already beginning to massively accept the plug-in vehicle as the car of the future. a collapse. It is the word they use in CarNewsChina to refer to the drop in sales of internal combustion cars. And, according to data provided by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), the sale of combustion cars has plummeted by 37% compared to the previous year and 33% compared to the month of March. Media like Jiemian They point to a clear cause of this trend: the price of oil. Last April, sales of cars with internal combustion engines were reduced by 530,000 units. The drop is undoubtedly influenced by a rise in the price of gasoline. The State has tried by all means to mitigate the impact on the consumer and the industry. In their market planning, the extra cost at the pump has been cushioned but, as they point out in Reutersgasoline and diesel are close to reaching all-time highs. Thank goodness. In Reuters They assure that China is the country that is best saving the oil crisis due to its diversified purchases but also due to the intensive use of electric cars. According to the Chinese media 36krIn 2024, China was already saving more than 400,000 barrels of oil per day thanks to its electric cars and represented a saving of 12% of its imports of this product. They explain that, although crude oil imports increased in 2025, this was due to an acceleration in the industry but electric cars helped mitigate the impact on purchases. Relief is key given the constant interruptions in regular supply of the countries near Hormuz. And it is that China has Russia as its main supplier but Saudi Arabia follows as second. A powerful track. So far this year, overall car sales in China have declined and especially “new energy” cars have been in the spotlight. Without the support of the State with purchase aidits sales have fallen by 17% but indications are that the oil crisis is helping the market rebound. In April, the drop in these cars was 6.8% while global sales fell 21.5%, both data compared to the same period of the previous year. In the first 10 days of Maysales of these cars have decreased by 13% compared to last year but have grown by 27% compared to the first 10 days of last April. Without state aid, car sales in China have fallen, underscoring the country’s historic problem in encourage family consumption. However, it does make it clear to us that the slowdown between plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles is being less than that of the rest of the technologies despite the fact that the State has stopped pushing. A backup. The movement towards electric vehicles is an endorsement of the policies of the Chinese state. With the economy managed with five-year plans, China has been building a base for more than two decades to be dominant with the Chinese electric car. He attracted knowledge by giving up landhas built a solid foundation in the supply chain and now Their brands already dominate the local marketthe largest in the world. But they have also given a lesson that is beginning to be seen outside their borders: the electric car is a good tool to alleviate the complications of the oil market. On a day-to-day basis, the savings by charging an electric car at low power are very high. If the price of gasoline rises, the savings skyrocket. Beyond China. Aware of this, China has put the turbo into its exports. BYD (which only sells plug-in vehicles) has broken a new shipment record. They are at the perfect time to enter the market with their low ranges but also offering electric cars at very competitive prices. Especially among plug-in hybrids. At the moment, most of the sales of Chinese cars in Europe are low-end cars with combustion engines. This already helps them penetrate the market, gain share and begin to be seen by new potential clients. But, also, its plug-in hybrids do not pay tariffs. This is allowing them to compete on price with Europeans and in countries like Spain, where it is considered the main purchasing value for a large part of the market, it is key. For example, a fact: so far this year, five of the 10 best-selling plug-in hybrid cars in Spain they are Chinese. Photo | INC and BYD In Xataka | An electric car is 54% cheaper to maintain than a combustion car. And it may not compensate because the data has a trick

After a catastrophic 2025, Tesla sales continue to decline in China. The solution is an old acquaintance

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Sales of electric cars have fallen in China. Although the loss is not as high as that of pure combustion vehicles, the decline in the market is producing very bad results for Tesla. And Elon Musk’s company has brought out one of its traditional tools to boost sales again. An obvious fall. Sales of electric cars in China are not reaping the best results although, everything must be said, recent weeks are beginning to give some hope to companies. At the moment, if global sales are not suffering a setback it is because the accelerator has been put into exportswith record numbers and growth of more than 70% compared to last year. But in the domestic market, sales of “new energy” cars (plug-in hybrids and electric) have fallen 21%reaching 2.92 million cars sold compared to 3.66 million last year. In recent weeks, the Hormuz crisis has served to begin to ground the decline of this type of car. Without state aidits sales had fallen but in recent days we have seen how the savings compared to gasoline have turned the situation around, to the point of break record in plug-in penetrations in the market. Damaged. The context so far this year has not been easy for brands that only sell plug-in vehicles. Much less, therefore, to those who only sell electric vehicles, like Tesla. Without state aid at the beginning of the year and a Chinese New Year longer than usual, sales of this technology fell in a market accustomed to growing year after year. This situation rewarded those who have the most diversified business. In January and FebruaryGeely, which has a portfolio where electric, plug-in hybrids and pure combustion cars are intertwined managed to surpass BYD whose leadership seemed untouchable. Tesla has been through a similar situation. So far this year, Its sales from January to April 2026 have fallen by 15%. It is a bad figure considering all the difficulties the company went through last year. This has led it to lose more market share and remain at just over 3%. Interests. Among the sales of its cars in China, The company has a huge dependence on the Model Ywhich represents around 75% of sales so far this year. But in April, where the Model 3 had a year-on-year drop of 66.09%, the sedan barely accounted for 11% of sales. The fastest solution has been through an old tool: loans. The company has an active campaign in China to defer payments for its cars at 0.99% interest in the case of the Model 3 and 0.92% in the Model Y. The idea is simple, aiming to reward the customer in the long term because it is increasingly difficult for them to compete at the starting price. Right now, in Spain it gives loans above 3% which, however, remains relatively low for our country’s market. However, the company has been offering similar loans before and, right now, In Germany a 0% interest offer is available. Other solutions. Very low interest loans are not Tesla’s only move in China. Aware that the Model 3 has little sales at the moment, GigaShanghai’s exports have skyrocketed so far this year. So much so that global sales, internal sales and those outside Chinese borders, they have grown 36% last April. This means that, clearly, Tesla is trying to move the focus of its target audience. The company has encountered the problem that in China the customer has turned to the local product that usually offers more for less money. The solution is to push the European market, which is now receiving the first units of the Basic Tesla Model 3. less margin. The problem for the company is that it can no longer push the price as hard as before. Before the massive embrace of the Chinese car in its local market and new models began to arrive in the European market, Tesla played as it wanted with demand rising and falling prices. Today those days are over and, what is worse for the company, Your profit margins cannot respond as before. As the price has fallen, the margin has narrowed, losing ability to continue moving in the market. This explains why the voices calling for smaller and more affordable versions of their cars are heard louder. A ship that, given what has been seen, Elon Musk’s company has not been able to bring to fruition. Photo | Priscilla Du Preez and Sou Jest In Xataka | Elon Musk called the $25,000 Tesla an “absurd idea.” Now you need it to compete in China

May begins loaded with offers on the MacBook Neo, the perfect eReader for traveling, sales on TVs and much more. Hunting Bargains

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We welcome the month of May that has begun with several very attractive campaigns and loose offers. Do you need a new television to watch the Soccer World Cup? Do you want to read more and are you looking for your first eReader? Well pay attention because today We’re back with a new Bargain Hunting. MacBook Neo by 749.95 eurosa perfect laptop to make the leap into the Apple ecosystem. nintendo switch 2 by 449 eurosone of the best prices MediaMarkt has had to date (there is also a pack available). Woxter Scriba 195 by 59.90 eurosan e-book reader that is ideal for casual readers. Xiaomi Buds 5 by 44.99 eurosthe brand’s headphones at half the official price. Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC by 494 eurosa good QLED TV with a 65-inch screen. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MacBook Neo He MacBook Neo It is one of Apple’s most popular laptops, and it has been one of the last to arrive. The version of 512GB It is the best seller in the “Traditional Laptops” section of Amazon and it is the one that is on sale, for 749.95 euros (previously 799 euros) in this case. It is a light computer of 1.23 kg, its chip is the A18 Pro of the iPhone 16 Pro and it is, in short, perfect for everyday tasks of writing text, web browsing, playing multimedia content and even image editing. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links nintendo switch 2 MediaMarkt and other stores have lowered the price of the nintendo switch 2. You can now buy it again for 449 euros (before 469 euros). However, if you do not have the first Nintendo Switch and want to receive the current generation with a video game, MediaMarkt also has a pack available for 479 euros from the console along with ‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘ and a keychain. To buy the pack you must select it with the “buy pack” button in the store. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Woxter Scriba 195 If you want to read a little more and are looking to make the jump to digital format because it is more comfortable for you, the Woxter Scriba 195 It is the perfect model for two reasons: it is economical because right now in El Corte Inglés it costs 59.90 euros (before 79.90 euros) and because it is small as it has a six-inch screen. In addition, it includes buttons to turn the pages and not dirty the screen so much and includes a microSD card slot in case you want to store many digital books. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi Buds 5 On the other hand, if you are looking for good headphones to enjoy your favorite music anywhere, be careful because the Xiaomi Buds 5 They are on MediaMarkt for 44.99 euros (before 59.99 euros, although its official price is 99.99 euros). They are headphones with audio adjustments signed by Harman, they are resistant to water and dust (IP54) and offer a good theoretical autonomy of up to 39 hours of use according to Xiaomi. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC There is little left until the Soccer World Cup, so if you have decided to take the opportunity to change TV, the Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC has dropped to 494 euros at MediaMarkt (previously 689 euros). It is a QLED smart TV with a 65-inch screen that supports the HDR10+ to have a good image experience on compatible content. It also includes Filmmaker mode for cinema and comes with both voice assistants Alexa and Google Assistant. Samsung TQ65Q7F5AUXXC (65 inches) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | Apple, Nintendo, Woxter, Xiaomi, Samsung In Xataka | Best televisions in quality price. Which one to buy and seven recommended 4K smart TVs In Xataka | Best wireless headphones. Which one to buy and 21 models from 15 euros to 470 euros

The latest MacBook Air drops in price, the perfect eReader for reading on the subway is on sale, sales on consoles and more. Hunting Bargains

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There is little left to close the month of April and so far we have been seeing very good offers on all types of devices, especially on Nintendo Switch 2 and some Apple phones and computers. Do you want to know what the best deals are right now? These are the ones we have been finding throughout the week and that are still available. MacBook Air M5 by 1,099 eurosthe latest Air laptop launched by Apple with a good storage configuration. nintendo switch 2 by 469 eurosa pack that includes ‘Pokémon Pokopia’ and a keychain. Kobo Clara BW by 129 eurosthe ideal e-book reader for reading away from home due to its quality and size. Poco X8 Pro 5G by 263.97 eurosan economical mobile phone with a very large battery. Atari 7800+ by 66.90 eurosa retro console that is compatible with the original cartridges. Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia + keychain The price could vary. We earn commission from these links MacBook Air M5 If this week there is a notable offer in the Apple brand, it is the one from the MacBook Air M5 because its price has dropped to 1,099 euros. This is the configuration of 512GB storagecomes with the M5 chip to ensure good power and excellent performance and is perfect if you want it to study or even work, whether at home or away thanks to its 13.6-inch diagonal, its thickness or its weight of 1.23 kg. MacBook Air M5 (512GB) – 13.6 inches The price could vary. We earn commission from these links nintendo switch 2 MediaMarkt has launched what is one of the best promotions of the nintendo switch 2. By 469 euroswhich is what the console costs by itself, you get it as a gift ‘Pokémon Pokopia‘ (physical edition, game key card) along with a keychain of… yes, ‘Mario Kart World’. It is the same keychain from the previous pack that included said video game. The offer will be available until April 28 unless units are sold out before. Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Pokopia + keychain The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Kobo Clara BW Several stores, including MediaMarkt, have lowered the price of Kobo Clara BW until the 129 euros. It is one of the eReaders with the best quality-price ratio on the market and is ideal if what you are looking for is to read at home and away from home. Because? Comes with a screen E Ink Letter 1300 six inches, so it maintains the good quality of this type of screen and a compact format so that it is comfortable to carry. Its performance is very good and it is waterproof, so you can use it next to a pool in summer. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Poco X8 Pro 5G Do you want to renew your mobile? Well, be careful because AliExpress has 263.97 euros he Poco X8 Pro 5G. He is the younger brother of his generation who stands out among other things for his great 6,500 mAh battery with 100W fast charging, so it will give you a good autonomy of approximately two days. It also comes with the Dimensity 8500 Ultra processor and HyperOS operating system. Poco X8 Pro 5G (256 GB) – European version The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Atari 7800+ The Atari 7800+ It is a particularly interesting retro console because it is compatible with original cartridges. Its price right now is 66.90 euros and, although it is true that the design has been maintained quite faithfully, it includes certain improvements to have a better experience, such as an HDMI port and options to choose between several resolutions. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | Apple, Nintendo, Rakuten Kobo, Xiaomi, Atari In Xataka | The best mobile phones (2026), we have tested them and here are their analyzes In Xataka | Best electronic book readers (e-readers) in quality price. Which one to buy based on use and five recommended models

last chance to take advantage of AEG’s March sales

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Perhaps it is not as common as on mobile phones or TVs, but from time to time we also have promos on household appliances. Do you need a new washing machine? Are you looking for a new refrigerator? It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for one of these or something more cleaning-related, like an upright vacuum cleaner: in the AEG March sales we can find very good prices for a lot of these devices. ProSense® Series 6000 10.0kg Freestanding Washer The price could vary. We earn commission from these links These sales, which will only be available until next April 7, have very interesting discounts on all types of appliances. The prices they have right now are already very good, but if we also use the code ‘XATAKAMARZOAEG‘We will get an additional discount that is very attractive. We have made a selection of eight offers that we find especially interesting. Beyond the prices, it is worth noting that they all have delivery in 48 or 72 hours and free installation for all non-built-in models. And, furthermore, interest-free financing for up to 12 months. Let’s go with the appliances in question: Series 7000 multifunction oven by 443.33 euroswith a thermal probe and a very easy-to-use LCD display. Series 6000 Freestanding Washing Machine by 487.78 euroswith 10 kg capacity and energy classification A. 6000 Series Dishwasher by 465.56 euroswith a special fastening system for glassware. 2.5 liter air fryer by 80 eurosideal for small kitchens. AEG Delicate 6000 ironing center by 90 euroswith adjustments for different types of fabrics. VX8 Bag Vacuum Cleaner by 132.22 eurospowerful, with three-in-one brush and silent. Cordless Vacuum Cleaner 7000 by 165.56 euroslight and with 50 minutes of autonomy per charge. American free-standing refrigerator Series 9000 by 932.22 euroswith a total capacity of almost 600 liters. Series 7000 multifunction oven We start with an oven, in this case one that stands out for coming with a thermal probe. It is a very useful utensil to know how food is cooked inside and, as it is connected to the oven, it will turn off automatically when it reaches the temperature we set. In addition, it is pyrolytic, which makes its interior maintenance much easier. Its RRP is 769 euros, although it is now reduced to 529 euros. With the code ‘XATAKAMARZOAEG‘, its price remains at 443.33 euros. SenseCook 7000 Series multifunction oven with LCD Display The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Series 6000 Freestanding Washing Machine If you are looking for a new washing machine, this AEG Series 6000 may fit you. It has ProSense technology, which will weigh the clothes before each wash to automatically adjust the time and water needed (which translates into savings every month). In addition, since it has a 10 kg capacity, it is perfect if you usually wash large things like duvets at home. From its RRP of 719 euros, now we can get it for 487.78 euros if we use the same coupon that we indicated above. ProSense® Series 6000 10.0kg Freestanding Washer The price could vary. We earn commission from these links 6000 Series Dishwasher As an option for a dishwasher, we have this one from the 6000 Series. One of the things that stands out the most about it is its SatelliteClean arm, which helps the water reach every corner of its interior, even if we have loaded it fully. Plus, when the wash cycle ends, its AirDry system comes into play: the door opens to let the steam escape and everything dries naturally. Its RRP is 709 euros, although with the coupon that we indicated, its price remains at 465.56 euros. 60 cm Series 6000 SatelliteClean dishwasher for 14 place settings The price could vary. We earn commission from these links 2.5 liter air fryer Not everyone wants or can fit a huge air fryer in their kitchen. This one from AEG stands out precisely for that, since it is very compact. In addition, it is not complicated to use at all because it basically has a wheel to adjust the temperature and cooking time. The same thing happens in terms of cleaning, since its basket can be put in the dishwasher. With the code ‘XATAKAMARZOAEG‘he stays alone 80 euros. 2.5 liter air fryer The price could vary. We earn commission from these links AEG Delicate 6000 ironing center This AEG Delicate 6000 can be very good for you if you are looking for a new clothes iron for the home. It stands out for being ready to work in just 60 seconds, so you won’t have to wait too long for it. Furthermore, as it has 5 bars of pressure, the steam will come out with enough force even for thick fabrics. Right now it is reduced to 94 euros (its RRP is 149 euros), but with the coupon it stays at 90 euros. AEG Delicate 6000 ironing center with 2000 W and 300 g/mm of steam boost The price could vary. We earn commission from these links VX8 Bag Vacuum Cleaner We move on to the first of the vacuum cleaners in this selection, in this case an option with a bag. One of the things that stands out the most about it is that it is a fairly silent model, since it emits 57 dB. In addition, it has a system called SmartMode with which it detects the type of floor we are vacuuming and automatically adjusts the power necessary for it. Without an offer, it costs 249 euros, although it is now reduced to 179 euros. With the coupon ‘XATAKAMARZOAEG‘ stays in 132.22 euros. VX8 600W 57dB(A) Bag Vacuum Cleaner The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Cordless Vacuum Cleaner 7000 We move on to this 7000 series vacuum cleaner, which is a wireless model. It is an option that barely weighs 2.2 kg, which makes it quite manageable and comfortable to use. In addition, since it offers 50 minutes of autonomy, we will have enough … Read more

Apple has broken an all-time sales record with the MacBook Neo in its first week. The surprise is absolutely zero

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Tim Cook himself confirmed it a few days ago in X. And Apple has managed to beat its own record with the help of MacBook Neo In terms of sales, it is the best launch of a Mac for new users in its entire history. The theme is striking to say the least, although it is little surprising considering that it is a significantly cheaper product than the rest of the equipment offered by the brand. Why does it matter? Apple has dominated the premium laptop market for decades, but it has always had a clear ceiling: its entry price. He MacBook Air with M5 part of the 1,199 euros, which leaves out a huge group of Windows PC users, Chromebook or directly without a computer. The launch of the MacBook Neo, at 699 euros (which remains at 599 for students), is Apple’s first serious attempt to conquer that market. And it seems to be working. busy week. On March 11, Apple presented three new computers simultaneously: the MacBook Neo, the MacBook Air with M5 chip and the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max. It was a pretty dense week for the Mac line. A few days later, Tim Cook published in X that this launch had broken the historical record of new Mac buyers, that is, people who purchased an Apple computer for the first time. Although Cook does not break down the figures or specify which model leads the data, the logic points in one direction. The responsible one. The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have a consolidated user base that periodically renews their equipment. The MacBook Neo, on the other hand, has no previous installed base: it is a completely new product, designed from the ground up to attract those who have never bought a Mac. With a price approximately half that of the Air, it is a profile that fits exactly with that of a buyer making the jump from Windows or a Chromebook. And it should be noted that the Mac has been on the market for decades, but there is still a huge volume of PC users who have never had one, and the Neo seems destined to change that. Who would imagine that a Mac would sell more if it were at a more competitive price… Demand exceeds supply. Another indicator of the Neo’s impact is that Apple is not being able to meet demand, according to they count from 9to5Mac. During March 20, all MacBook Neo models in Apple’s online store had a delivery date between April 6 and 13, according to the media, which means between two and three weeks of waiting for a product launched just a week ago. Normally it is something that usually happens when a new iPhone arrives, but on Mac it is something much less common. Those with an Apple Store nearby may have better luck, although the assortment varies greatly depending on location and color. The industry was already on alert. The impact of the Neo has not gone unnoticed outside of Apple. According to AppleInsiderWindows PC manufacturers have been surprised by both the price and the features of the new laptop. It is not a device for everyone, but it does seem to be for many: it has the A18 Pro chip (the same as iPhone 16 Pro) that, for office automation and navigation tasks it gives you plentyand it comes in a good assortment of colors, with a value proposition that was unprecedented on Mac and that seems to convince many users. Cover image | Apple In Xataka | Apple is not only being penalized for being late to the AI ​​boom: it is also penalizing itself for allying itself solely with Google

BYD sales are sinking in China, so its plans now go through two countries: Mexico and Argentina

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BYD has its eye on America. At the moment, its entry into the United States is almost impossible but its expansion plan not only targets the country that has tried to build a wall against Chinese car manufacturers. The Chinese company has set its sights on Canada. But also further south, in Mexico. And much further south, in Argentina, with a project that crosses the entire continent. 100,000 cars. According to Stella Li, vice president of BYD worldwide, the volume of cars that Mexico and Argentina have claimed that the Brazilian factory exports to them. According to Chinese media, this volume of orders is distributed equally, with 50,000 cars for each country. The export order for the Brazilian factory demonstrates the growing interest in both countries for BYD plug-in vehicles. He’s not the only one. In Brazil alone, BYD sold 113,000 cars last year, making the country the country that bought the most cars from the company outside of China. A factory is key. Since last summer, BYD is producing cars in Brazil with a clear focus for South America. There it produces the BYD Dolphin Mini (what we know in Europe as BYD Dolphin Surf) and will share facilities with the BYD Song Pro and BYD King, plug-in hybrid options. The plant, which started with controversy after working conditions close to slavery will be reported During its construction, it has the current objective of producing 150,000 cars each year but is capable of expanding the volume to 600,000 cars per year. The investment, therefore, is strong. At the moment, production has begun in the SKD version, with kits that arrive partially assembled, as is happening in Barcelona with the Chery Group, but according to BYD The goal is for production to be completely local over the years. From Mexico to Argentina. In Bloomberg They explain that the plant will be the central industrial hub of the entire continent for BYD. The company started with a production of 150,000 cars per year and planned to expand its capacity with a second phase to 300,000 cars. However, last October they announced that they plan to double this figure and reach 600,000 cars manufactured per year. Expansive plans in America are key for BYD. The company is seeing its sales slow down in the local market. In China, the State has withdrawn aid to the purchase of “new energy” vehicles (plug-in hybrids and electric), which directly impacts a company like BYD that has no other alternative in its range. Added to this is that the State has been trying for years to mobilize local consumption, which declines without this aid. The news coming from outside China indicates in Blomberghave been good news for the company whose shares have begun to rebound after a sustained fall. The Mexico case. Looking ahead to its expansion, BYD has set its sights on Mexico. In fact, Chinese manufacturers have been gaining great popularity in the country. enough so that the Government, in a clear nod to the United States, has raised some 50% tariffs on these cars. A strategy that, for the moment, has been unsuccessful in its first stages because These companies had already exported cars in very high volumes. However, BYD has the best tool in Brazil to continue selling in Mexico. Both countries have a special treaty that allows them to take cars from one country to another without paying tariffs along the way. The company planned to build a factory in Mexico which, in addition, he wanted to use as a back door for shipping cars to the United States. With the closure of this border and the tariffs already imposed on Chinese cars (and those to come)BYD ended by throw away your plans. The Argentina case. As we said, Mexico and Brazil are not the only two attractive markets for BYD. Argentina has become another vein that, supposedly, has demanded the importation of 50,000 Chinese cars. In Infobae They point out that this figure is equivalent to 10% of Argentina’s annual vehicle production. Until now, the Argentine market has been highly regulated in its imports but it has opened up. This has increased imports by 97%, making it more important than ever for companies to export outside their borders. (90% of them already do it). However, they are seeing how the reception capacity in countries like Peru or Ecuador is lower because Chinese vehicles are also beginning to enter these markets. At the moment, tariff-free imports to Argentina are based on quotas. Quotas that, of course, They are 50,000 units which are exactly the ones that BYD plans to send to the country from Brazil. An eye on Europe. But, in addition, the Chinese company says it is not only interested in America. In presenting all these figures, BYD also assured that it had one eye on Europe. And with him progressive link between Mercosur and Europeit will be easier to import cars to Europe economically. It remains to be seen, however, if BYD is compensated for the efforts it has to make in terms of homologation to bring cars from Brazil. And tariffs are one thing and security obligations are quite another. Despite this, the company may have an opportunity if it manufactures pick-up for America, widely purchased in the region but with very low performance in Europe, so it can compensate for its exports so as not to have to dedicate specific assembly lines in our soil for a marginal type of vehicle. Photo | Jimmy WooBYD and Nicolas Flor In Xataka | Spain has a new brand of Chinese cars and it arrives with an ambitious plan: “Five million units by 2030”

Sony closes its games to PC and Capcom confirms that half of its sales come from there. A contradiction with a reason: Playstation 6

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Sony has decided that titles like ‘Ghost of Yotei’ will not come to PC, ending six years of multiplatform strategy. The twist is striking for the moment: Capcom has just confirmed that 50% of its sales already come from the PCand expects that number to continue growing. Two giants of the industry from Japan, two radically opposite bets on where the future of the business lies. The breakup. After weeks of rumors in that direction, Bloomberg confirmed that Sony has canceled plans to bring its big single-player exclusives to PC. TO ‘Ghost of Yotei‘, one of the most celebrated PlayStation releases in 2025, are joined by ‘Saro’, the next Housemarque game. The multiplatform experiment that Sony started in 2020 with ‘Horizon Zero Dawn‘It has lasted six years. The withdrawal is not total. According to sources consulted by Bloomberg, games as a service (the imminent ‘Marathon’, ‘Marvel Tokon’ or ‘Horizon: Hunter’s Gathering’) will maintain a multi-platform launch, because their business model depends on building player bases as wide as possible. ‘Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’ and ‘Kena: Scars of Kosmora’ will continue to be ported to PC this year, as they are titles from third-party developers published under the PlayStation umbrella. Calm rhythm. Sony’s release rate on Steam was never that of a furious competitor: the titles arrived between one and three years after their console debut, which meant that the ports had to compete against previous versions that had already suffered price discounts, to which was added the incessant pace of new releases for PC. These are some of the reasons why Sony may the bills didn’t work out: ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ reached a peak of 77,000 simultaneous players, but ‘Horizon Forbidden West’ and ‘The Last of Us Part II Remastered’ did not exceed 40,000 and 30,000 respectively. To retreat. This leaves some decisions made by Sony recently up in the air: in 2021 acquired Nixxes Softwarea Dutch studio specialized in porting games to PC (‘Tomb Raider’ trilogy, ‘Deus Ex: Mankind Divided’), and it is not clear what its future will be with this new strategy. Furthermore, on the 19th Bluepoint Games closedthe studio responsible for the remakes of ‘Demon’s Souls’ and ‘Shadow of the Colossus’, with around 70 employees affected. Sony think tank CEO Hermen Hulst spoke internally of an “increasingly challenging industry environment”, with rising development costs and slowing growth. Bluepoint had been working on a ‘God of War’ project in the form of a game as a service. Print money. In February 2025, Shuhei Yoshida, former president of PlayStation Studios, described the strategy of bringing games to Steam as something which is similar to “printing money” because the cost of a port is only a fraction of that of developing an original game. Why the change in strategy? PC numbers weren’t bad in absolute terms: Sony’s five best-selling titles on Steam together they surpassed 43 million copies and generated more than $1.2 billion in gross revenue for the company. The problem may well be the value they subtract from the hardware: they generate income but not a loyalty to the ecosystembecause a PC gamer does not need to buy a Playstation console. In the end, as Bloomberg pointed out, PC ports represent less than 2% of Sony’s total annual revenue. And there is something else: apparentlythere is a real concern about the design of the next xboxwhose architecture is closer to a Windows PC than to a conventional console, with the possibility of supporting multiple stores, including Steam. The PlayStation exclusives available on Steam could run perfectly on an Xbox, which would make Sony investing money to literally benefit its most direct competitor. Capcom prefers the PC. A day before Bloomberg published Sony’s new policy, Capcom released the Q&A transcript of its fiscal third-quarter results. An investor asked about the PC strategy regarding ‘Resident Evil Requiem‘ and its technical commitment to that platform. The company’s response was that the PC already represents approximately 50% of the total units sold for Capcom, and the internal expectation is that that figure will continue to grow. Already in October 2021, the company’s COO Haruhiro Tsujimoto stated in an interview that the company’s goal was that the PC became its main platform and that the proportion of sales between console and PC will reach 50-50 in 2022 or 2023. The prediction has been fulfilled with only a couple of years of delay. Revenue generated via Steam grew by 61.1% between April 2024 and March 2025 and in that same period PlayStation’s share of Capcom’s total revenue fell below 10%. The differences. Of course, there are differences to take into account between Capcom and Sony. Capcom has no hardware to sell, and its only incentive is to maximize the distribution of its software catalog across all platforms. Sony, on the other hand, manages a complete ecosystem that includes a console, digital store, subscription and accessories, and each decision has to be measured not only in direct sales of that title but in the impact on the value of the hardware and loyalty to the ecosystem. They are different business structures. Things that happen. All this happens the same year that Valve announces its new Steam Machine, in which the ROG Ally with branding from xbox It corroborates after the Steam Deck that the power of PC hardware can reach the living room, and that Microsoft officially embraces the idea that its games do not need an Xbox to be played. What justifies buying a dedicated console in 2026? Sony clearly focuses its sights on the most successful name in the industry at the moment: Nintendo. If you have to sell hardware, the key is exclusivity and making your object essential. It only remains to be seen if Playstation 6 will be so essential. In Xataka | Playstation 6: all the information we know (or think we know) so far

BYD sales have fallen 41% in China. It is the biggest symptom that something much more serious is happening in your industry.

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They are very specific days but the data is the data. And the data says much more because of what it hides than what it says at first. BYD has fallen 41% in sales during the Chinese New Year holidays. The problem is that the Chinese market seems to be slowing down. And BYD isn’t the only company feeling it. 41%. This is, as we said, how much BYD sales have fallen in China during the month of February 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The data is provided by CarNewsChina where it is also noted that it is 9.5% less than last January, so the trend does not invite optimism. In the middle they point out that this fall coincides with a Chinese New Year that in 2026 has completely departed the month of February. These are days in which sales inevitably fall because citizens live immersed in the largest migration in the world and this year has been one of the longest festive periods in recent years. In 2025, these festivals occupied the last days of January so that during the remainder of the month they were able to reach cruising speed, which exacerbates the decline. The price war. BYD’s low sales are exacerbated by a stagnating local market. To continue encouraging sales, BYD, Tesla or Xiaomi are offering financing for seven years. Something common in our country but a rarity that is becoming consolidated in China and that makes another detail clear: there is no room to continue lowering prices. Already in January, the China Passenger Car Association announced that sales had fallen 13.9% compared to the same month in 2025. The situation was more complicated among “new energy” vehicles, as plug-in hybrids, electric and extended-range electric vehicles are called. In this case, the drop reached 20%. Obviously, for BYD, Tesla or Xiaomi, who only offer electric or plug-in cars, the former, the situation is more delicate. A must-see. Exporting has become an almost obligatory outlet for BYD. Although its sales have decreased in the local market, exports have exceeded 100,000 units and that represents a growth of more than 50%. And there are already four consecutive months with shipments of this volume, they point out in CarNewsChina. Although BYD’s progress had been slow in Europe until recently, in 2025 they grew 270% on our continent. January has also been a good year (they almost triple their position compared to January 2025, they point out in The Energy Newspaper) and is a boost to a policy that has opted to give more for less money within plug-in vehicles. If we talk about Spain, one of the most important countries for BYD right now outside of China, BYD has placed two electric cars among the 10 best-selling cars so far this year and another two among the five best-selling plug-in hybrids. Much more than a symptom. Although we have focused on BYD sales, what is clear is that in 2026, car sales will not start in China. In The New York Times They reflect the drop in the company’s share price, which has lost part of the support of investors. But the problem goes beyond the brand’s headquarters. Mike Smithfrom Washington and Lee University, points out to the American media that 40% of the vehicle production generated by China is not being used, according to his calculations. This is not the first time that there has been talk of Chinese overproduction of automobiles. The constant evolutions in the product have made products launched just a few months before obsolete, pushing the price war even further. And with a country overproducing cars and evolutions at a dizzying pace, it is logical that the customer stops purchasing, expecting a better car at a better price in the short term. Photo | EEYAUT Waihung on Wikimedia In Xataka | Same car, three names, three prices and one reality: China has chosen Mexico as the spearhead of its exports

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