China NEV Retail Ranking July: BYD Leads as Tesla Exits Top 10

BYD Maintains China NEV Market Leadership

China NEV Retail Ranking July shows BYD retaining the leading position in China’s new energy vehicle market, while Tesla dropped out of the top 10 after holding fifth place for two consecutive months. According to rankings released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), BYD recorded 223,461 passenger NEV retail sales in July, down 18.6% year-on-year and 0.5% from June. Its market share increased to 23.5% from 22.3% in June, giving the company a wider lead over the second-ranked manufacturer. BYD led ahead of Geely with 105,526 units and an 11.1% share, while Leapmotor reached 83,698 units and ranked third.

Leapmotor Records Strong Growth Among Top NEV Makers

Leapmotor delivered the strongest month-on-month growth among the top 10 NEV manufacturers, with retail sales rising 15.6% from June and 83.9% year-on-year. Its 83,698-unit July total gave it an 8.8% share of China’s passenger NEV retail market. The company also reported global deliveries of 101,267 vehicles during the month, marking the first time its monthly global deliveries exceeded 100,000 units. Changan Automobile ranked fourth with 59,907 units, down 10.5% from June, while SAIC-GM-Wuling ranked fifth with 48,967 units after an 8.3% monthly increase. Huawei-backed HIMA placed sixth with 45,422 units, down 4.1% year-on-year and 10.3% from June.

The remaining positions in July’s NEV ranking were closely contested among established and newer manufacturers. Chery ranked seventh with 39,079 units and a 4.1% share, followed by Nio with 35,842 units and a 3.8% share. Nio retained its eighth-place position from June, with retail sales increasing 70.5% year-on-year despite an 11.6% decline from the previous month. SAIC Passenger Vehicle ranked ninth with 31,471 units, representing a 341.6% year-on-year increase but a 6.8% monthly decline. Xiaomi EV completed the top 10 with 31,267 units, up 2.7% year-on-year and down 10.0% from June.

Tesla Falls Outside July NEV Top 10

Tesla recorded 27,249 retail sales in China in July and therefore fell outside the top 10 NEV ranking. The result followed two consecutive months in fifth place and highlights the changing competitive balance within China’s electric vehicle market. Li Auto and Xpeng were also absent from the July top 10. The monthly ranking therefore shows a mixture of strong year-on-year growth from companies such as Leapmotor and Nio, substantial monthly movements among several established manufacturers, and continued pressure on Tesla’s relative position. These changes are particularly notable because the ranking measures passenger NEV retail sales rather than global deliveries or production volumes.

January-July NEV Ranking Shows BYD Still Ahead

For the January-July period, BYD remained the leading passenger NEV manufacturer with 1,214,340 retail sales and a 21.4% market share, although its sales were down 35.6% year-on-year. Geely Auto ranked second with 683,873 units and a 12.1% share, followed by Changan with 381,574 units and Leapmotor with 343,891 units. HIMA ranked fifth with a 5.1% share, while Tesla China ranked sixth with 266,204 units, down 12.4% year-on-year. Nio ranked eighth with 226,490 units and a 4.0% share, followed by Li Auto with 223,940 units and Xiaomi EV with 216,322 units.

Broader Passenger Vehicle Market Ranking

The broader passenger vehicle market, which includes conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, also showed BYD at the top in July. BYD held a 15.3% retail share, ahead of Geely at 11.0% and Leapmotor at 5.7%. Changan ranked fourth with 5.5%, while Chery held fifth with 5.1%. FAW-Volkswagen ranked sixth with a 5.0% share, followed by SAIC-GM-Wuling, GAC Toyota, FAW Toyota and SAIC-Volkswagen. Joint venture brands remained under pressure, with FAW-Volkswagen recording 73,408 retail sales, down 33.9% year-on-year, while SAIC-Volkswagen recorded 48,000 units, down 41.9% year-on-year.

The January-July overall passenger vehicle ranking marked an important change at the top. BYD held an 11.9% share and moved ahead of Geely, whose 1,181,990 units represented an 11.6% share. In the January-June period, Geely had led the overall market with an 11.7% share, while BYD was second at 11.4%. The latest cumulative ranking therefore indicates a shift in leadership within the broader passenger vehicle market. FAW-Volkswagen and Changan each held a 6.2% share, followed by Chery at 4.8%, SAIC-Volkswagen at 4.2%, GAC Toyota at 3.9%, Leapmotor at 3.4%, SAIC-GM-Wuling at 3.3% and FAW Toyota at 3.2%.

Powertrain Mix Shapes Competitive Positions

The composition of the leading manufacturers also reflects differences in their powertrain strategies. BYD produces only new energy vehicle models, including battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle models, while Tesla builds only battery electric vehicles. Geely, by contrast, continues to offer conventional gasoline vehicles alongside its NEV portfolio. This distinction is important when interpreting both the NEV ranking and the broader passenger vehicle ranking because manufacturers compete across different powertrain mixes. The July data consequently provide a snapshot not only of individual company performance but also of how rapidly NEV-focused manufacturers are gaining or defending market share within China’s wider passenger vehicle industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Tesla fall out of China’s July NEV top 10?
Tesla recorded 27,249 retail sales in China in July, which placed it outside the top 10 NEV manufacturers after two consecutive months in fifth place. The result reflects the competitive pressure created by faster-moving Chinese NEV brands and significant changes in monthly sales among leading manufacturers. Leapmotor, for example, increased July retail sales 15.6% from June and 83.9% year-on-year, while Nio delivered strong year-on-year growth. Tesla remained a major player, but its July retail volume was below the threshold required for a top-10 position.

Which company led China’s NEV market in January-July?
BYD led China’s passenger NEV retail market during January-July with 1,214,340 units and a 21.4% share, despite a 35.6% year-on-year decline in sales. Geely ranked second with 683,873 units and a 12.1% share, while Changan and Leapmotor followed with 381,574 and 343,891 units, respectively. Tesla ranked sixth with 266,204 units and a 4.7% share. The cumulative ranking therefore shows BYD maintaining a substantial lead over the second-ranked manufacturer while the positions behind it remained highly competitive.

How did BYD perform in China’s broader passenger vehicle market?
BYD ranked first in China’s overall passenger vehicle retail market in July with a 15.3% share, ahead of Geely at 11.0% and Leapmotor at 5.7%. For January-July, BYD also ranked first with an 11.9% share, moving ahead of Geely’s 11.6% share. The shift was notable because Geely had led the broader market during January-June with an 11.7% share, compared with BYD’s 11.4%. BYD’s position is particularly significant because its lineup consists only of NEV models, including battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.