BYD has further solidified its position as China’s top new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, according to the latest retail sales data for July. Meanwhile, Tesla has slipped out of the top 10 after holding fifth place for two consecutive months, highlighting shifting dynamics in the world’s largest NEV market.
BYD Maintains Top Spot Despite Year-on-Year Decline
BYD led China’s NEV market in July with retail sales of 223,461 passenger NEVs, securing a 23.5% market share. This figure represents a decrease of 18.6% compared to the same month last year and a slight 0.5% dip from June. Despite the decline, BYD’s market share increased from 22.3% in June, widening its lead over competitors.
In the broader passenger vehicle market, which includes both NEVs and conventional vehicles, BYD also ranked first in July with a 15.3% share.
Market Rankings: Leapmotor Surges
Geely Auto held second place in NEV retail sales with 105,526 units in July, accounting for 11.1% of the market. Leapmotor achieved the strongest month-on-month growth among the top 10, with sales rising 83.9% year-on-year and 15.6% from June to reach 83,698 units and an 8.8% share.
Changan Automobile was fourth with 59,907 units, while SAIC-GM-Wuling rounded out the top five with 48,967 units. Other notable performers included HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) in sixth, Chery in seventh, and Nio in eighth with 35,842 units—a 70.5% year-on-year increase. SAIC Passenger Vehicle and Xiaomi EV completed the top 10.
Tesla’s retail sales in China fell to 27,249 units in July, causing it to drop out of the top 10 NEV rankings. Li Auto and Xpeng were also absent from the list.
January–July Cumulative Sales and Market Share
For the first seven months of the year, BYD led NEV retail sales with 1,214,340 units and a 21.4% share, though this was down 35.6% year-on-year. Geely followed with 683,873 units and a 12.1% share, while Changan and Leapmotor ranked third and fourth, respectively.
Tesla ranked sixth for the January–July period with 266,204 units sold in China, representing a 4.7% share and a 12.4% year-on-year decline. Nio, Li Auto, and Xiaomi EV rounded out the top 10.
Overall Passenger Vehicle Market Performance
In July’s overall passenger vehicle market, BYD led with a 15.3% share, followed by Geely at 11.0% and Leapmotor at 5.7%. Joint venture brands such as FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC-Volkswagen faced significant declines, with year-on-year drops of 33.9% and 41.9%, respectively.
From January to July, BYD overtook Geely in cumulative passenger vehicle retail sales, holding an 11.9% share compared to Geely’s 11.6%.
Why this matters
The latest sales data underscores BYD’s dominance in China’s NEV sector, even as overall volumes declined year-on-year. The rapid growth of brands like Leapmotor and the drop of Tesla from the top 10 reflect a highly competitive and evolving market landscape.
These shifts highlight the growing strength of domestic Chinese automakers in the NEV space, while established international brands face increasing pressure.
What this means for buyers
Buyers in China’s NEV market are seeing increased competition among domestic brands, which may lead to more choices and potentially better value. Monitoring monthly sales and market share can help consumers identify which brands are gaining traction and may offer stronger support or innovation.
Key Specs
- BYD July NEV Retail Sales: 223,461 units
- BYD July NEV Market Share: 23.5%
- Geely July NEV Retail Sales: 105,526 units
- Leapmotor July NEV Retail Sales: 83,698 units
- Tesla July NEV Retail Sales: 27,249 units
- BYD January–July NEV Retail Sales: 1,214,340 units
- Tesla January–July NEV Retail Sales: 266,204 units
- BYD July Overall Passenger Vehicle Market Share: 15.3%
