At the beginning of June, various automakers successively released their sales performance reports for May 2026. According to the forecast data released by the CPCA (China Passenger Car Association) on May 23, domestic new energy passenger car retail volume was expected to reach 950,000 units, penetration rate approximately 62.5%, setting a new historical high. This data further confirms the continued deepening of electrification transformation, as the new energy vehicle market is steadily transitioning from "policy-driven" to "market-driven".
Looking at specific sales data, the top tier pattern of new forces experienced severe differentiation in May - Leapmotor led by a "huge gap" with monthly sales exceeding 80,000 units. At the same time, traditional auto groups represented by BYD, Changan, Geely, etc., saw their self-incubated new energy brands also show a collective surge in volume in May, and the strategic value of multi-brand matrices is accelerating realization.
New Forces Matrix: Leapmotor 80,000+ "Huge Gap Lead", Multiple Brands Gathered in the 30,000 Bracket
The new forces market pattern in May showed distinct tiered characteristics: Leapmotor exceeded 80,000 units in a single month, forming a leading advantage; NIO, relying on three-brand synergy, reached sales volume of 37,700 units; Li Auto, Xpeng, Xiaomi, AITO, and other brands were concentrated in the 30,000-35,000 unit range, forming the most competitive core battlefield.
Image Source: Leapmotor
Leapmotor became the undisputed biggest highlight of May. According to Leapmotor official data, May total delivery volume reached 81,569 units, year-on-year growth 81%, month-on-month growth 14.26%, once again breaking the brand's single-month delivery historical record. Leapmotor also became the first enterprise among Chinese new automakers to exceed 80,000 units in single-month delivery.
Looking at specific models, Leapmotor A10 exceeded 20,000 units in single-month delivery, D19 new orders continued to maintain above 10,000 units, C Series global cumulative sales already exceeded 800,000 units. By the end of May, Leapmotor cumulative delivery in the first five months exceeded 300,000 units.
Leapmotor's 2026 annual sales target is 1.05 million units. Behind this ambition is Leapmotor Chairman Zhu Jiangming's proposed "2026 Sprint to 1 Million Units" strategic goal. With June C Series refresh, D99 pre-sale, and Lafa5 large-scale overseas expansion, Leapmotor is expected to launch a shock at the new milestone of 90,000 units monthly delivery.
Image Source: NIO
NIO Company also showed steady performance in May. Data shows, NIO May delivery of new cars 37,705 units, year-on-year growth 62.3%, month-on-month growth 28.4%.
NIO's growth benefits from the strategic effectiveness of three brands working together - NIO brand delivered 20,013 units, year-on-year growth 50.8%; ONVO brand delivered 12,029 units, year-on-year growth 91.5%, month-on-month increase as high as 124.8%; Firefly brand delivered 5,663 units, year-on-year growth 53.9%.
From the product level, flagship SUV NIO ES8 sold 11,475 units in May, maintaining competitiveness in the high-end market above 400,000 yuan. By the end of May, NIO company cumulative delivery this year reached 150,500 units, year-on-year growth 68.7%, cumulative delivery total has reached 1.148 million units.
Li Auto May delivery 33,350 units, by end of May historical cumulative delivery volume has reached 1.703 million units. Li Auto Chairman and CEO Li Xiang stated, since first quarter this year delivery volume has entered a growth track, among them Li Auto i6 delivered volume exceeded 20,000 units for three consecutive months, stable in top three pure electric SUV sales; May, new Li Auto L9 officially released and started delivery, L Series models entered new upgrade cycle, new L9 Livis order volume exceeded 10,000 units within two weeks of release.
Image Source: Xpeng
Xpeng Group May delivery 32,158 units, month-on-month growth 3.7%, creating a new monthly delivery high since 2026. This growth mainly stems from the continuous effort of existing product matrix - 2026 Model P7+, G6, G9 and G7 Super Range Extender versions etc. models have completed capacity ramp-up, MONA M03 maintains hot sales in 150,000 yuan level pure electric market.
On May 20, new tech flagship Xpeng GX officially launched and started delivery, providing pure electric and super range extender two power, total 8 models, 12 hours after launch firm orders reached 24,863 units, among them Ultra flagship version ratio exceeds 80%.
Xiaomi Auto May delivery volume continued to exceed 30,000 units, holding steady the "30,000+" step for the second consecutive month. Xiaomi has evolved from early SU7 "single product holding the flag" to SU7 Series and YU7 Series dual-line parallel product pattern.
By end of May, Xiaomi Auto first five months cumulative delivery volume approx 140,000 units, completed full year 550,000 units delivery target 25.5%. As a new force entered market only two plus years, Xiaomi maintaining monthly sales 30,000+ level already belongs to difficult, but second half year average monthly delivery needs to reach approx 55,000 units to achieve full year target, challenge still exists.
Image Source: HarmonyOS Intelligent Alliance
May 2026, HarmonyOS Intelligent Alliance single month delivery volume reached 46,122 units, achieving year-on-year and month-on-year dual growth. Among them, AITO Auto full series models May delivery 34,320 units, month-on-month growth 48.2%, 1-5 months cumulative year-on-year growth 28.7%.
New generation AITO M9 launched 24 hours firm orders exceeded 20,000 units, and achieved launch and delivery immediately; AITO M6 launched first month delivery exceeded 20,000 units.
From competitive landscape perspective, besides Leapmotor, remaining several new force brand delivery volumes front and back gap not big, ranking may interchange at any time, pattern highly dynamic. From this "30,000 bracket cluster", it can be seen, new forces from "break 30,000" to "stand firm 40,000" still need to cross growth threshold - this both tests product matrix richness, and puts higher requirements on supply chain management and delivery system.
Domestic New Energy: Multiple Brands Work Together, Enter Fast Lane
In the domestic new energy brand matrix that traditional auto groups are accelerating promoting, May also handed in an outstanding answer sheet. Looking at overall data released by major vehicle groups, the trend of steady improvement in new energy penetration rate is converting into tangible sales volume scale.
Image Source: BYD Auto
BYD May sales 383,000 units, ranking first in industry, among them passenger car sales 377,000 units. Dynasty Network and Ocean Network sales 330,200 units, still BYD sales cornerstone; Fangchengbao sales 30,186 units; Denza sales 16,303 units; Yangwang sales 286 units.
In terms of overseas market, BYD May export new energy vehicles total 160,600 units, year-on-year growth 80.7%, creating new historical high again.
Geely Auto May group total sales volume 238,000 units, realized same month-on-month dual growth for three consecutive months. That month new energy model sales volume 133,000 units, accounted for sales volume ratio 56.1%, exceeded 50% for four consecutive months.
Underlying Zeekr brand May delivery 34,377 units, year-on-year growth 81.8%, creating new historical high again - Zeekr 009, 9X, 8X etc. models ratio nearly 50%, driving brand single car transaction average price year-on-year increase 52.4%, holding steady in luxury brand camp.
Lynk & Co brand May sales 20,732 units, new energy sales 14,688 units, month-on-month growth 17%, new energy sales ratio as high as 71%.
Image Source: Changan Auto
Changan Auto May global delivery 209,000 units, new energy vehicle delivery 92,000 units. Changan electrification transformation shows multi-brand matrix head-to-head competition characteristic: Changan Qiyuan May delivery 34,528 units, among them new Q05 delivery 15,812 units, Thailand launch three days orders exceeded 3,000 units; Deepal Auto May global sales 33,243 units, year-on-year growth 30%, 1-5 months overseas cumulative sales 28,704 units, year-on-year growth 167%; Avatr May delivery 7,336 units, showing continuous upward trend. Sorting out data of each month this year, Avatr from January 2,216 units, February 4,033 units, March 5,143 units, April 5,279 units climbed up to May 7,336 units, visible its growth momentum.
SAIC Motor Group May vehicle sales volume 349,000 units, among them new energy vehicle sales 182,000 units, year-on-year growth 46.49%. Underlying IM Motors May delivery 10,023 units, holding steady 10,000 unit gateway for two consecutive months, 1-5 months cumulative sales year-on-year growth 115%; SAIC Passenger Car new energy 1-5 months cumulative reached 174,000 units, year-on-year surge 195%, MG4 Family 8 months sales broke 10,000.
Image Source: eπ Tech
Dongfeng system domestic new energy brands also performed outstandingly. Dongfeng eπ Tech May delivery 24,830 units, year-on-year growth 42%, 1-5 months cumulative delivery 109,600 units, overseas market year-on-year growth 194%. Voyah Auto May delivery 13,003 units, year-on-year growth 30%, 1-5 months cumulative delivery 62,041 units, year-on-year growth 35%.
Hyper Aion BU May sales 33,140 units, year-on-year growth 23.76%, among them Aion i60 monthly sales continued over 10,000. Arcfox Auto May sales 17,943 units, year-on-year growth 32.82%, overall performance steady, Alpha S5, Koala etc. models are its main force models, May started pre-sale Arcfox Beta S3 and launched Wayfind V9 future will further support its overall sales.
Conclusion:
From overall industry view, May new energy penetration rate approx 62.5%, new high again. Domestic brands have become important market force, traditional big factory late advantage showed - Geely new energy ratio exceeded 56%, Changan new energy approaching 100,000 units, SAIC new energy year-on-year increase over 46%. But there is a problem still cannot ignore, multi-brand matrix at the same time covering segmented markets, also faces resource integration and internal friction control test.
Looking forward subsequently, as multiple new models enter delivery cycle, new energy market expected to continue growth. Can Leapmotor stabilize "One Super" status? Who in 30,000 bracket cluster will break out first? These will be the highlights coming next.
