2025 New Energy Car Sales Report: Xiaomi SU7 Overtakes Tesla Model 3, NIO Rebounds

The Chinese new energy automobile market maintained rapid growth in April 2025, with retail penetration exceeding 50% for the first time. Battery car sales surged 32.6% year-over-year (YoY), while pure electric models officially surpassed plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in market share. Automobile manufacturers and car dealers are witnessing unprecedented demand for sedans, SUVs, and pickups as consumers increasingly embrace sustainable mobility.

BYD Dominates, Xiaomi Disrupts Tesla’s Sedan Leadership
BYD retained its top position with 380,100 units sold in April, up 21.33% YoY, driven by its diverse lineup of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery cars. However, the spotlight shifted to Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan, which delivered 28,000 units, surpassing Tesla’s Model 3 (25,900 units). Analysts attribute Tesla’s decline to intensified competition and Xiaomi’s aggressive pricing strategy. Meanwhile, startups like XPeng and Leapmotor shattered records: XPeng’s deliveries skyrocketed 273% YoY to 35,045 units, while Leapmotor sold 41,039 automobiles, up 173% YoY.

Leapmotor and XPeng: New Energy Car Innovators
Leapmotor’s newly launched B10 sedan achieved 10,000 deliveries in April, with 95% of orders for premium trims. Its upcoming B01 sedan and upgraded 2026 C10 SUV—both equipped with advanced battery car technology—are expected to strengthen its position. Similarly, XPeng’s MONA M03 sedan surpassed 100,000 cumulative deliveries within eight months, and its 2025 X9 became the top-selling pure electric MPV. Car dealers report strong demand for XPeng’s intelligent driving features, a key differentiator in the sedan and SUV segments.

NIO Regains Momentum, Li Auto Stabilizes
NIO rebounded with 23,900 deliveries in April (up 53% YoY), driven by its flagship sedan lineup and the budget-friendly Firefly brand. Although its sub-brand Ledao underperformed expectations, NIO’s upcoming 5566 sedan could reignite growth. Li Auto delivered 33,939 automobiles, emphasizing hybrid SUVs and pickups. Its newly unveiled MEGA Ultra and L6 models target families seeking plug-in hybrid electric vehicles with extended ranges.

Xiaomi’s Meteoric Rise and Supply Chain Challenges
With only the SU7 sedan in its lineup, Xiaomi’s new energy car division surpassed 100,000 annual sales in just four months. The brand’s backlog of 100,000 orders highlights production bottlenecks, as customers face nine-month wait times. Industry experts predict Xiaomi’s next model, the YU7 pickup, will further disrupt the automobile market upon its mid-2025 launch.

Emerging Players: Zeekr and Voyah
Zeekr Group (including Lynk & Co) delivered 41,316 vehicles, led by its flagship 9X SUV debut. Voyah, a state-backed automaker, crossed 100,000 annual sales, leveraging partnerships with Huawei to integrate next-gen battery car tech and autonomous driving systems into its sedans and SUVs.