Joint-venture NEVs are facing increasingly tough challenges in the Chinese market, where GAC Toyota BZ3X and Nissan N7 emerge as the two dark horses.
In the first half of 2025, China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market produced 6.968 million units and sold 6.937 million units, achieving a market penetration rate of 44.3%, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Compared with the same period in 2024 (production: 4.929 million; sales: 4.944 million; penetration: 35.2%), production, sales, and market penetration saw significant gains.
NEVs are gradually becoming the dominant force in China’s auto market. While local brands have been the main drivers, joint-venture automakers are also ramping up their efforts.
Since early 2025, China has witnessed a “Joint-Venture 2.0” wave. Some joint ventures have deepened collaboration with domestic supply chains, allowing Chinese teams to lead development of new models, effectively creating “China-specific NEVs.”
Meanwhile, existing joint-venture NEVs are aggressively adopting local market strategies, with price reductions as a primary tool to enhance competitiveness.
Are these efforts paying off? Here’s a look at the top 10 best-selling joint-venture NEVs in China in H1 2025.
Top 1: Buick GL8 PHEV
From January to June 2025, the Buick GL8 PHEV series sold 20,359 units, making it the best-selling joint-venture NEV in China.
Notably, the GL8 PHEV includes multiple variants in China: the 2025 GL8 Luxury PHEV launched in April, while the GL8 Premium PHEV was introduced in late August.
Sales trends show that April saw GL8 PHEV sales surge over 100%, peaking in May at 7,391 units, likely reflecting the launch of the new GL8 Luxury PHEV.
The 2025 GL8 Luxury PHEV starts at RMB 249,900 ($35,000) and features Buick’s “True Dragon” plug-in hybrid technology, offering a combined range of 1,420 km.
Its famed spacious interior remains intact: a 3,088 mm wheelbase accommodates three rows and seven seats. As the top-selling joint-venture NEV in H1 2025, the GL8 PHEV demonstrates that, with advanced technology adoption, joint-venture NEVs still hold a place against domestic competitors.
Top 2: SAIC Volkswagen ID.3
The SAIC Volkswagen ID.3 sold 20,964 units, securing second place.
The ID.3, a seasoned model in China, introduced two new variants in 2025: the “Smart Edition” in March, focusing on infotainment intelligence, and the “GTX Package” in June, emphasizing sporty appeal.
Despite updates, its core remains unchanged: a 53 kWh battery provides 451 km of electric range, and the MEB platform has seen no upgrades since its 2021 China launch.
ID.3’s Top 2 position is largely due to Volkswagen’s brand reputation and significant price adjustments. The 2025 Smart Edition starts at RMB 119,900 ($16,800), with possible dealer discounts, making it one of the most accessible joint-venture NEVs.
Top 3: GAC Toyota BZ3X
The GAC Toyota BZ3X is a clear dark horse, selling 19,591 units from March to June, ranking third.
Initially, expectations were low. Toyota’s prior “bZ” series performed poorly, with the exception of the bZ3 for ride-hailing, averaging around 1,000 units monthly.
The BZ3X is a fully localized, China-focused joint-venture NEV. Beyond exterior design continuity with the bZ series, its chassis, powertrain, and smart technologies are developed locally with GAC.
The biggest change lies in intelligence: its driver-assistance system, powered by Momenta, enables full-scenario navigation on highways and urban roads.
Pricing is competitive: starting at RMB 109,800 ($15,400) and RMB 129,800 ($18,200) for 520 km range, enhancing its appeal. This shows that local technology can significantly boost joint-venture NEV value propositions.
Top 4: BMW i3
The BMW i3 sold 11,150 units, ranking fourth, ironically below the fuel-powered 3 Series’ July sales of 11,199 units.
The 2025 i3, launched in September 2024, is priced from RMB 353,900 ($49,600) to RMB 413,900 ($58,000). Updates include a closed “dual kidney” grille, revised air vents, standard keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, and an extended range of 592 km.
The i3 remains an ICE-to-electric conversion based on the CLAR platform, with limited interior space and electronics integration compared to mainstream EVs.
Heavy discounting (RMB 160,000–200,000, $22,400–28,000) is the main sales strategy, with some cities’ starting prices below RMB 200,000 ($28,000).
As such, EV i3 sales remain far behind its ICE counterpart. A new pure-electric iX3 platform launching later in 2025 could revitalize BMW’s NEV sales.
Top 5: Nissan N7
The Nissan N7, another dark horse, sold 9,888 units from April to June, ranking fifth.
Like the BZ3X, it is a China-specific NEV developed by domestic teams. The Huadu Nissan team led its definition and R&D, with interior and smart features aligned with local consumer expectations.
The cabin adopts a minimalistic, button-free design, while driver-assistance, in partnership with Momenta, provides full-scenario navigation. Some observers note that aside from branding, the N7’s design and driving experience closely match Chinese NEVs.
It also retains traditional comforts, with meticulously designed front and rear seats. With a reasonable starting price of RMB 119,900 ($16,800), its top-five ranking is understandable.
Top 6: FAW Volkswagen ID.4 CROZZ
The ID.4 CROZZ, a veteran joint-venture NEV, sold 9,522 units, benefiting from brand reputation and adjusted pricing.
Like the ID.3, it has not undergone a full redesign since its 2020 launch in China, remaining on the MEB platform with 400V architecture.
Base and high trims feature 55 kWh and 80 kWh batteries, providing 448–601 km range, marking a main upgrade for the “2026 model.”
Its competitive position owes much to being the only joint-venture mid-size EV SUV under RMB 150,000 ($21,000) for an extended period, though newer models like BZ3X have eroded its market share.
Top 7: FAW Toyota bZ3
The FAW Toyota bZ3 ranks seventh among the top 10 joint-venture EVs, with total sales of 9,169 units in the H1 2025.
Launched in April 2023, the bZ3 is Toyota’s second pure-electric model for the Chinese market, following the bZ4X. Its monthly sales once peaked near 6,000 units, but since 2025, the highest monthly figure has been 3,500, with a sharp drop to around 1,000 units in May and June.
The bZ3 has had a turbulent start. Since its debut, it has faced multiple recalls for various issues and received criticism for unconventional door handle designs.
Yet the bZ3 still ranks among the more popular joint-venture EVs, largely because it remains Toyota’s only pure-electric sedan in the market, leaving consumers with few alternatives. Additionally, the model is widely supplied to B2B channels and is a common choice for ride-hailing services.
Top 8: smart #1
The smart #1 sold a total of 8,935 units over the past six months, ranking eighth on the list.
Compared with other joint-venture EVs on the chart, the smart #1 stands out as “less of a traditional JV” product. Its design, chassis performance, powertrain, and intelligent systems all carry the influence of Chinese engineering teams.
In particular, the interior design and intelligent features benefited significantly from partner Geely’s involvement. Compared with a similarly positioned model like the ID.3, the smart #1 clearly aligns more closely with Chinese consumer preferences.
However, the Smart #1 is not inexpensive, with a starting price of RMB 154,900 ($21,700), and its “premium small car” positioning limits its audience.
Nonetheless, thanks to its distinctive positioning, the Smart #1 remains one of the more successful joint-venture EVs in the Chinese market, demonstrating that high-quality design still resonates with consumers.
Top 9: SAIC Volkswagen ID.4 X
The SAIC Volkswagen ID.4 X is a sister model to the ID.4 CROZZ. Aside from minor exterior differences, both share identical fundamentals in driving experience, interior space, performance, and range.
As a result, their sales are very close. The ID.4 X, possibly affected by slight variations in sales channels or dealer policies, sold 8,360 units in the first half of the year, placing ninth on the list.
The strengths and weaknesses of the ID.4 X mirror those of the CROZZ. Its main advantage is being the most accessible mid-size, all-electric SUV from the Volkswagen brand in China; the drawback is that its basic features lag behind those of mainstream Chinese EVs.
In other words, for both ID.4 models to boost sales in China, a more comprehensive redesign is urgently needed. Meanwhile, higher-ranking models like the GAC Toyota BZ3X and Nissan N7 could serve as strong benchmarks.
Top 10: BMW iX3
The first-generation BMW iX3 sold 6,780 units. Sales have steadily declined since March, dropping below 1,000 in June and only 312 units in July.
Like the i3, it is an ICE-to-electric conversion with limited range and interior space, receiving lower ratings than the fuel-powered X3.
Its sales rely on BMW brand recognition and significant discounting, with terminal prices dropping to RMB 226,800 ($31,800) from RMB 405,000 ($56,700), under 60% of the original MSRP.
The next-generation iX3, built on a dedicated EV platform, is slated for global launch by late 2025 and will soon arrive in China, potentially reshaping BMW’s NEV performance in the market.
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