Record-Breaking May for Electric Vehicles as Top Automakers Post Historic Sales

Driven by China’s national vehicle trade-in policy, multiple automakers achieved historic electric vehicle sales in May. Industry giants like Geely, Leapmotor, FAW Bestune, Arcfox, Dongfeng Nissan, and Changan Mazda shattered their previous EV records, while Changan, XPeng, Great Wall, Nio, and GAC Toyota secured their top-three monthly sales performances ever. Remarkably, second-tier brands significantly contributed to the overall surge in new energy car deliveries.

Market Leaders Charge Ahead
BYD dominated the electric vehicle market with 382,476 units sold, followed by SAIC Motor’s 365,983 vehicles. SAIC’s battery-powered car sales soared to 124,575 units, complemented by robust overseas shipments of 97,793 vehicles. Geely Auto reported 235,208 passenger car deliveries, with its electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid sales hitting an all-time high of 138,021 units. This represents 59% of Geely’s total volume – a clear sign of accelerating electrification.

Changan Automobile moved 224,310 cars, including 94,828 new energy cars. Its premium EV brands shone: Deepal delivered 25,521 units, while Avatr’s 12,767 sales marked a explosion.

New Energy Startups Shift into High Gear
Startups delivered equally stunning numbers. Leapmotor’s 45,067 vehicles secured its third consecutive monthly startup crown. Li Auto moved 40,856 SUVs, and XPeng hit 33,525 deliveries – its seventh straight month exceeding 30,000 units. According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), new energy brands captured 20.5% market share in May, up 4.5 percentage points annually.

Industry Warns Against Cutthroat Competition
As sales accelerate, industry bodies are denouncing destructive pricing wars. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) issued a May 31st statement urging "healthy competition" and rejecting "profit-eroding discounting." Echoing this, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) vowed to "crack down on cutthroat tactics" through stricter compliance checks and anti-unfair competition enforcement. On June 5th, Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian confirmed coordinated efforts to "safeguard fair market order."

Automakers now face a critical balancing act: investing in next-gen electric vehicle tech while maintaining sustainable margins. Differentiation – whether through luxury SUVs, rugged pickups, or affordable city cars – will separate winners from the pack.