Quick Takeaways
- BYD retained leadership in the China NEV market despite a sharp year-on-year sales decline.
- Tesla China sales dropped significantly as exports from Shanghai surged.
The China NEV market opened 2026 with significant shifts in retail rankings, as BYD retained its leadership position while Tesla once again fell out of the top 10. January performance data released by the China Passenger Car Association revealed sharp year-on-year declines for several major players, alongside notable gains from emerging competitors. Despite softer volumes, BYD continued to dominate overall share, while Tesla China sales were impacted by export priorities from its Shanghai facility.
BYD sold 94,176 passenger new energy vehicles in January, representing a 53.0% year-on-year decline, according to CPCA data. Even with the drop, BYD maintained its top ranking in the China NEV market, securing a 15.8% market share.
This marked a substantial decrease from its 25.4% share in December 2025, yet it remained enough to preserve leadership amid broader seasonal softness across the sector.
In China, new energy vehicles include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. BYD continues to offer both battery electric and plug-in hybrid models across multiple passenger vehicle segments.
Tesla did not appear in the top 10 NEV retail sales ranking for January. The company previously fell out of the China NEV market top 10 in October 2025 for the first time in three years, before briefly re-entering in November and December with market shares of 5.5% and 7.0%, respectively.
Tesla China sales totaled 18,485 units in January, marking the lowest monthly retail figure since November 2022. The total represented a 45.15% year-on-year decline, based on CPCA figures released earlier in the month.
A major contributing factor was export activity from Tesla?s Shanghai plant. The facility exported 50,644 vehicles in January, the second-highest monthly export total on record, trailing only October 2022 when 54,504 units were shipped overseas.
The elevated export volume reduced available inventory for domestic deliveries, influencing Tesla China sales within the China NEV market during the month.
Geely Auto recorded NEV retail sales of 92,135 units in January, down 21.6% year-on-year. The company ranked second in the China NEV market with a 15.5% share, narrowing the gap with BYD to just 0.3 percentage points.
Beyond NEVs, Geely ranked first in the overall passenger vehicle retail market in January, including traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, with a 13.6% market share.
Huawei?s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance business reported NEV retail sales of 57,915 units in January, representing a 65.5% year-on-year increase. HIMA secured third place in the China NEV market with a 9.7% share.
Brands under the HIMA umbrella, along with BYD and Geely, produce both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, while Tesla focuses exclusively on battery electric vehicles.
Xiaomi EV ranked fifth in the January NEV top 10 list with retail sales of 39,002 units and a 6.5% market share.
Li Auto placed seventh with 27,668 retail sales and a 4.6% share, while Nio ranked eighth with 27,061 retail sales and a 4.5% share.
The January reshuffle highlights how export strategies, product mix, and competitive positioning continue to reshape the China NEV market at the start of 2026.
BYD Retains Leadership in the China NEV Market
BYD sold 94,176 passenger new energy vehicles in January, representing a 53.0% year-on-year decline, according to CPCA data. Even with the drop, BYD maintained its top ranking in the China NEV market, securing a 15.8% market share.
This marked a substantial decrease from its 25.4% share in December 2025, yet it remained enough to preserve leadership amid broader seasonal softness across the sector.
In China, new energy vehicles include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. BYD continues to offer both battery electric and plug-in hybrid models across multiple passenger vehicle segments.
Tesla China Sales Fall Out of Top 10 Again
Tesla did not appear in the top 10 NEV retail sales ranking for January. The company previously fell out of the China NEV market top 10 in October 2025 for the first time in three years, before briefly re-entering in November and December with market shares of 5.5% and 7.0%, respectively.
Tesla China sales totaled 18,485 units in January, marking the lowest monthly retail figure since November 2022. The total represented a 45.15% year-on-year decline, based on CPCA figures released earlier in the month.
Exports from Shanghai Impact Domestic Performance
A major contributing factor was export activity from Tesla?s Shanghai plant. The facility exported 50,644 vehicles in January, the second-highest monthly export total on record, trailing only October 2022 when 54,504 units were shipped overseas.
The elevated export volume reduced available inventory for domestic deliveries, influencing Tesla China sales within the China NEV market during the month.
Geely Auto Narrows the Gap
Geely Auto recorded NEV retail sales of 92,135 units in January, down 21.6% year-on-year. The company ranked second in the China NEV market with a 15.5% share, narrowing the gap with BYD to just 0.3 percentage points.
Beyond NEVs, Geely ranked first in the overall passenger vehicle retail market in January, including traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, with a 13.6% market share.
HIMA and Emerging Players Gain Momentum
Huawei?s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance business reported NEV retail sales of 57,915 units in January, representing a 65.5% year-on-year increase. HIMA secured third place in the China NEV market with a 9.7% share.
Brands under the HIMA umbrella, along with BYD and Geely, produce both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, while Tesla focuses exclusively on battery electric vehicles.
Xiaomi EV ranked fifth in the January NEV top 10 list with retail sales of 39,002 units and a 6.5% market share.
Li Auto placed seventh with 27,668 retail sales and a 4.6% share, while Nio ranked eighth with 27,061 retail sales and a 4.5% share.
The January reshuffle highlights how export strategies, product mix, and competitive positioning continue to reshape the China NEV market at the start of 2026.
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