Geely Geome Xingyuan and BYD Qin Plus Lead China EV Rankings Amid Market Slowdown
China’s electric vehicle market closed 2025 with overall growth, but December figures signaled cooling momentum across both battery electric vehicles and plug in hybrids. While total annual volumes remained strong, the final month of the year suggested that competition and softer demand could define 2026.
Battery electric vehicles reached 8,097,866 deliveries in 2025, up 27.6 percent year on year. Plug in hybrids totaled 5,072,986 units, rising a more modest 4.2 percent. In December alone, combined EV deliveries edged up just 0.5 percent compared with the same month in 2024, reflecting the slowest pace of expansion in more than a year.
In the plug in hybrid segment, BYD continued to dominate despite declining volumes. The BYD Qin Plus emerged as China’s best selling PHEV in 2025 with 281,413 units delivered. Although this represented a 17.6 percent drop from the previous year, it was sufficient to secure a 5.5 percent segment share. December performance offered some encouragement, with 40,000 units sold and a strong year on year increase.
The BYD Seal 6 followed in second place with 188,525 annual deliveries, while the BYD Song Pro secured third with 180,661 units. The Song Plus, which had led the segment in 2024, slipped sharply after a 51.4 percent annual decline. The first non BYD entrant was the Li Auto L6, finishing fifth with 166,174 deliveries.
Several newer models signaled shifting dynamics. The Aito M8 entered the annual top ten after launching in April, achieving 148,934 sales. The BYD Song L was one of the few top models to post annual growth, rising 16.5 percent to 141,686 units. December rankings also featured emerging contenders such as the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 and the Aito M7, suggesting intensified competition ahead.
In the battery electric vehicle market, the Geely Geome Xingyuan took the top position in its first full year on sale. With 471,410 deliveries, it secured a 5.8 percent market share and surpassed the Tesla Model Y, which had led in 2024. The Geome Xingyuan also recorded strong December growth, reinforcing domestic brand momentum.
The Wuling Mini ranked second for the year with 431,617 units, benefiting from strong late year performances. Tesla’s Model Y placed third with 425,337 deliveries despite an 11.4 percent annual decline. The Tesla Model 3 also posted solid growth, finishing seventh with 200,361 units.
Other notable performers included the Xiaomi SU7 with 258,065 deliveries and the Xpeng M03, which recorded a sharp increase over 2024 levels. Meanwhile, established models such as the BYD Seagull and Dolphin faced declining market shares amid intensifying price competition.
As BEVs accounted for 61.5 percent of all EV sales in 2025, up nearly five percentage points from the prior year, the balance of power shifted further toward fully electric models. However, slowing December growth across both segments indicates that manufacturers may face tighter margins and stronger rivalry in the coming year.
