Leapmotor Sets New Records as BYD Sales Stabilize in May 2026

Despite numerous efforts from the fossil fuel industry, the global automotive market is increasingly transitioning to electric vehicles, with China leading this revolution. Sales data from May 2026 indicates a significant surge among Chinese manufacturers. While some established giants struggle to maintain their momentum, newer startups are capturing a considerable share of the global market.

Market leader BYD has held its top position by selling 376,990 passenger vehicles in May 2026. This figure is essential as it marks the end of a challenging eight-month decline in year-on-year sales. The company sold just 60 more cars than in May of the previous year, effectively stabilizing its sales trajectory. A bright spot for BYD came from its sub-brand, Fang Cheng Bao, which experienced a remarkable year-on-year growth of 139.7%, resulting in 30,186 deliveries.

Other established automotive groups reported varied results for the month. Geely secured a strong market presence with 133,355 electrified vehicles sold, although this represents a 3.4% decrease compared to the same period last year. Chery Group celebrated a significant milestone, surpassing the 100,000-unit mark for the second consecutive month by delivering exactly 100,304 vehicles globally.

Leapmotor captured attention by achieving a historic high with 81,569 vehicles delivered in May 2026—an impressive 81% increase compared to May of last year. This performance secured Leapmotor the leading position among Chinese electric vehicle startups for the fourth consecutive month.

Zeekr, Geely's premium division, also recorded notable success, delivering 34,377 vehicles—an 81.8% increase from the previous year. Changan remained competitive by selling a total of 92,400 electrified models, with its Deepal sub-brand contributing 33,243 units, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 30.3%. However, Changan's high-end Avatr brand faced challenges, reporting a 42.5% decline to just 7,336 units sold.

Nio exhibited strong growth by launching distinct sub-brands, delivering a total of 37,705 vehicles in May—representing a 62.4% increase from the previous year. The core Nio brand accounted for 20,013 of these sales. Additionally, its family-oriented Onvo brand saw a remarkable 91.5% increase with 12,029 deliveries, while the more affordable Firefly brand contributed 5,663 units.

However, not all startups were triumphant in May, and some established players encountered decreasing demand. Li Auto delivered 33,350 vehicles, reflecting an 18.4% decline compared to May of last year. XPeng experienced a 4.1% dip, finishing the month with 32,158 deliveries. Prominent tech companies entering the auto sector reported steady figures, with Xiaomi delivering over 30,000 electric vehicles and Huawei's HIMA alliance providing 46,122 vehicles to customers.

At the lower end of the monthly rankings is Great Wall Motor (GWM), which managed to sell only 30,447 "new energy" vehicles in May, positioning GWM behind nearly all other automakers in China. As international competition intensifies, the divide between startups and legacy brands appears to widen each month.

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