May Deliveries: ONVO Rebounds, Leapmotor Leads—Who Gained Momentum?

As China’s EV market approaches its mid-year review, May saw intensified competition. BYD ignited a price war by discounting its Dynasty and Ocean series, followed by Geely, Chery, and GAC Aion—a trend spreading from budget to premium segments.

Amid this, regulatory voices (MIIT, CAAM) condemned “reckless price wars” and “scale-at-all-costs” strategies. Meanwhile, premium models like AITO M9 and Lynk & Co 09 thrived, signaling market divergence.

Key Brand Performances:

NIO:
- Total: 23,231 (↑13.1% YoY, ↓2.8% MoM)
- Breakdown: NIO brand 13,270; ONVO 6,281; Firefly 3,680 (first full month).
- Highlight: ONVO’s rebound reflects operational reforms; World Model NWM rollout may boost future sales.

NIO‘s deliveries from January to May in 2024 and 2025

A bar chart depicting the sales trend of the 乐道L60 model from January to May 2025, showing increasing sales figures each month with the highest sales in May at 6,281 units. — Sales of ONVO L60 from January to May

XPeng:
- 33,525 (↑230% YoY, ↓4.3% MoM)
- Context: 7th straight month >30K deliveries; Q1 loss halved to ¥660M ($91.7M).
- M03 Max/Plus secured 12,566 orders in 1 hour; G7 launch imminent.

A promotional image for XPeng showcasing their May delivery figures of 33,525 vehicles, with a 230% increase compared to the previous year. The visual features children observing fish in a vibrant underwater scene. — XPeng secured 33,525 deliveries in May

Li Auto:
- 40,856 (↑16.7% YoY, ↑20.4% MoM)
- MEGA targets 2.5K–3K/month; pure-electric i-series (i8/i6) and global expansion (30% overseas target) key for H2.

Infographic showing Li Auto's vehicle deliveries for May 2025, with a total of 40,856 units, and year-over-year growth of 16.7%. The chart compares monthly deliveries for 2024 and 2025. — Deliveries of Li Auto from January to May in 2024 and 2025

Leapmotor:
- 45,067 (↑148% YoY, ↑9.8% MoM)
- Leader: 3rd consecutive month as #1 startup. C10/C11/B10 drive growth; profitability within reach despite Q1 loss.

A family is playing in a green field near a large bear-shaped inflatable while a purple car is parked nearby. The text highlights that the Leapmotor C10 will officially launch in 2026, conveying a message about creating an ideal home for young people worldwide. — Leapmotor secured 45,067 deliveries in May

Xiaomi:
- 28,000 (vs. 7,058 in May 2024)
- Challenge: Capacity crunch despite new factories; YU7 launch (690HP, 3.23s 0-100km/h) in July adds pressure.

A stylish yellow sports car parked on a city street, with large text displaying that Xiaomi's vehicle deliveries exceeded 28,000 in May. — Xiaomi secured 28,000 deliveries in May

Harmony Smart Drive:
- 44,454 (↑45.3% YoY)
- Stars: AITO M9 (15,481), M8 (12,116), Luxeed R7 (5,124), Stelato S9 EREV (>2,000).

A promotional image featuring multiple electric vehicles from Harmony Smart Drive, showcasing a total sales figure of 44,454 for May against a serene blue background. — Harmony Smart Drive secured 44,454 deliveries in May

Zeekr Group:
- 46,538 (↑15.2% YoY)
- Zeekr: 18,908; Lynk & Co: 27,630. 007 GT delivered >10K in debut month.

A promotional graphic from Zeekr Group displaying sales figures for May 2025, highlighting 46,538 units sold, with a 15.2% year-over-year increase and a 12.6% month-over-month growth. — Zeekr Group secured 46,538 deliveries in May

GAC Aion:
- 26,777 (↓33.2% YoY, ↓5.4% MoM)
- Struggle: Ride-hailing market slowdown hits core models (AION S/Y).

A turquoise AION electric vehicle parked at a charging station with a clear sky backdrop, showcasing sales figures for May 2025. — GAC Aion secured 26,777 deliveries in May

BYD:
- 382,476 (↑15.3% YoY, flat MoM)
- Dynasty/Ocean: 348,393; Fang Cheng Bao: 12,592 (↑418.2%); Denza: 15,806; Yangwang: 139 (↓77.1%).

A promotional graphic showcasing BYD's sales figures for May, featuring a blue sky background, various car models, and statistics highlighting total sales and market growth. — BYD secured 382,476 sales in May

Notable Movers:

Voyah: 10,022 (↑122% YoY) — Dreamer dominates (61% of sales).

A sleek electric SUV by Lifeng Motors driving along a tree-lined road, accompanied by promotional text showcasing delivery numbers for May 2025. — Voyah secured 10,022 deliveries in May

Avatr: 12,767 (↑179% YoY) — 06 model drives growth despite drag-coefficient controversy.

A promotional image for Avatr's car model sales, featuring five vehicles in various colors on a scenic background, with sales figures displayed in Chinese text. — Avatr secured 12,767 deliveries in May

Deepal: 25,521 (↑78% YoY) — S09 orders hit 21,168 amid marketing misstep.

An infographic detailing Deepal Automotive's May sales performance, showcasing a collection of electric vehicles (EVs) against a blue background, with sales figures and growth percentages prominently displayed. — Deepal secured 25,521 deliveries in May

Arcfox: 13,509 (↑200.2% YoY) — Record sales with upgraded T5/6-series.

An advertisement for Arcfox showcasing sales figures for May, featuring text in Chinese that highlights significant year-over-year increases in sales numbers for electric vehicles. — Arcfox secured 17,120 deliveries in May

Trends:

Premiumization: Harmony’s ¥708K–1.02M ($98.4K–$141.7K) Maextro S800 secured 2,100 orders in 48 hours.
Global Push: Leapmotor (Malaysia/EU production), Li Auto (Russia entry), XPeng (Turing AI overseas) accelerate expansion.
Profitability Focus: XPeng eyes Q4 profit; Leapmotor nears breakeven; BYD’s flat growth sparks discounts.