BYD Leads New Energy Car Sales Surge in May as Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Boom Continues

On June 1st, major Chinese car manufacturers released May delivery figures, showcasing fierce competition in the new energy automobile sector. BYD dominated with 382,500 new energy car sales, up 15.3% year-over-year, cementing its leadership in the electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) markets.

New Energy Car Makers Race for Market Share
Startups demonstrated explosive growth, with Leapmotor claiming the "sales crown" among emerging brands by delivering 45,067 battery car and PHEV units—a 148% YoY increase. Li Auto followed closely, selling 40,856 automobiles (16.7% YoY growth), its first 40,000+ month in 2025. XPeng secured third place with 33,525 car deliveries (+230% YoY), bolstered by its new MONA M03 sedan which garnered 12,566 pre-orders in one hour.

Xiaomi Motors ranked fourth with over 28,000 new energy cars sold, while Deepal (Changan’s EV brand) took fifth with 25,521 deliveries. NIO shipped 23,231 units across its premium sedan and SUV lineup, including the new ET5 series. VOYAH, though achieving 10,022 sales (+122% YoY), faces pressure to accelerate output to meet its annual 200,000-unit target.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Momentum Fuels Expansion
BYD’s PHEV technology remains pivotal to its success, driving a 38.7% YoY increase in cumulative Jan-May sales (1.76 million units). Li Auto’s CEO Li Xiang noted refreshed PHEV models are accelerating order growth, projecting monthly deliveries of its flagship MEGA automobile to hit 2,500–3,000 units (+150–200% YoY). The company’s sales chief confirmed confidence in reaching 50,000 monthly deliveries soon.

Car Dealers Navigate Pricing Reforms as Regulators Curb "Volume-Over-Value" Tactics
Amid intensifying competition, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) jointly condemned "disorderly price wars" on May 31st. MIIT vowed strict oversight of "inward-rolling competition," emphasizing product consistency checks and anti-unfair trade enforcement. Zhang Jinhua, Chairman of China Society of Automotive Engineers, urged car dealer networks and manufacturers to prioritize sustainable quality over short-term discounting: "Cutting corners for volume jeopardizes industry-wide credibility," he warned, referencing recent new energy car price cuts.

Battery Car and Pickup Segments Gain Traction
XPeng’s MONA M03 battery car and Xiaomi’s upcoming YU7 sedan (launching July) highlight expanding EV options. Deepal’s growth (+78% YoY) faces challenges despite its appeal to car dealer networks, as its in-vehicle advertising controversy and delayed profitability—requiring 30,000 monthly sales—underscore scaling pressures. Meanwhile, pickup and SUV models like Li Auto’s L-series continue driving PHEV adoption, with car dealer incentives aligning with national emissions goals.

Outlook: Quality-Centric Growth Reshapes New Energy Car Landscape
As regulators tighten market governance, automobile makers must balance volume ambitions with compliance. With BYD’s PHEV prowess and startups’ agile battery car innovations, China’s new energy car sector remains on track for record 2025 sales—provided car dealer practices and production quality evolve beyond price-led competition.