In September, the electric vehicle (EV) market in China saw significant growth, with most manufacturers experiencing an increase in sales. Notable exceptions include BYD, which was down 6% compared to the same month last year, and Li Auto, which saw a 36.8% decrease. On the other hand, Nio grew 64%, Xpeng 95%, and Leapmotor 97%. This surge in sales can be attributed to the approach of the Golden Week holiday, which began on October 1 and runs through October 8, prompting automakers to meet their sales targets.
According to data compiled by China EV DataTracker, BYD Group sold 393,060 passenger vehicles globally, a 5.8% increase from August but a 5.9% decrease from the same month last year. Geely Group, on the other hand, experienced a significant surge, with 165,201 electric vehicles sold, representing a 12.1% increase from August and an 81.3% increase from the same month last year. This growth was primarily driven by Geely’s new Galaxy brand, which contributed 120,868 units to its EV sales, a 316% year-over-year increase in September.
Other notable performers include Leapmotor, which sold 66,657 vehicles, up 16.8% from August and 97.4% from the same month last year, and Xpeng, which sold 41,581 vehicles, up 10.3% from August and 94.7% from the same month last year. Huawei’s HIMA alliance also saw significant growth, with 52,916 vehicles sold, up 18.7% from August and 32.5% from the same month last year.
In terms of sales targets, Xpeng is likely to surpass its 2025 target of 380,000 units, while Li Auto’s target of 640,000 vehicles is unlikely to be achieved and may be reduced again. Nio Group sold 34,749 vehicles, up 11.0% from August and 64.1% from the same month last year, and is on track to meet its sales targets. Overall, the Chinese EV market continues to experience significant growth, driven by increasing demand and the expansion of new brands and models.
The sales data for September also shows that Tesla China delivered over 50,000 units, with estimated sales of around 55,000 units for the month, excluding exports from the Shanghai plant. Xiaomi also reported significant growth, with over 40,000 units delivered, representing a more than threefold increase in year-over-year deliveries. The China EV DataTracker report provides a comprehensive overview of the Chinese EV market, highlighting the growth and trends in the industry.