Which Brand Will Gain More Momentum During the “Golden September & Silver October” Auto Sales Peak?
As a result, we are witnessing a scenario where multiple new EV makers have reached new highs simultaneously.
Today, we are witnessing a scenario where multiple new NEV manufacturers have set new delivery records.
Among them, Leapmotor, which has been on an unstoppable streak this year, even delivered an “astonishing” 66,657 units. This year, it has consecutively crossed the monthly delivery thresholds of 40,000, 50,000, and 60,000 units, and is now charging toward the 70,000-unit mark.
In addition, NIO, driven by multiple forces—including the restructuring of its NT2 platform system, the sustained strong sales of the Ledao L90/L60, and the “low start, high growth” performance of the Firefly—continued to refresh its brand’s all-time delivery high in September.
Of course, NIO and Leapmotor are not the only ones setting new delivery records; Xpeng, IM Motors, and Voyah also reported impressively growing sales figures.
“Golden September & Silver October” is the most crucial auto sales season of the year. Let’s take a look at which brand is showing stronger momentum during this prime period.
P.S.: Due to the special nature of the National Day holiday, the deadline for recording automakers’ released data in this article is 8:00 PM on October 1.
NIO
In September, NIO delivered 34,749 units, representing a 64% year-on-year (YoY) increase and an 11% month-on-month (MoM) growth, setting a new all-time high.
Breaking down NIO’s three major brands:
- The core NIO brand delivered 13,728 units in September, with a remarkable MoM growth of 30.43%;
- The ONVO brand delivered 15,246 units, a MoM decrease of 7.23%;
- The Firefly brand delivered 5,775 units, also achieving a strong MoM growth of 32.9%.
In September, NIO’s all-new ES8 made a stunning debut in the industry with a starting price of RMB 298,800 ($41,966) for the battery rental plan. Together with the ONVO L90, it has become one of the two “blockbuster” pure electric large three-row SUVs in 2025.
Notably, the ONVO L90 has achieved monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units for two consecutive months. For NIO to sustain its momentum in September, the delivery performance of the ES8 is crucial—and expectations remain optimistic.
Xpeng
Xpeng Motors delivered 41,581 units in September, marking the first time the company has exceeded 40,000 monthly deliveries in its history.
Specifically, Xpeng’s September deliveries surged by 95% YoY and 10.27% MoM. As of September, Xpeng’s cumulative deliveries for the year have exceeded 300,000 units.
The all-new Xpeng P7 was a highlight in September’s deliveries, with its 10,000th unit rolling off the production line. It is also the model in Xpeng’s lineup to reach a production rate of 40 JPH (jobs per hour) the fastest on the new production line.
In addition, the MONA M03 continued to achieve monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units. However, the delivery share of the three SUV models (G7, G6, G9) and the P7+ remains relatively small—these represent key growth drivers for Xpeng to focus on in the fourth quarter.
Li Auto
Li Auto delivered 33,951 units in September, a 19% MoM increase.
September saw the launch of Li Auto’s all-new pure electric model, the i6.
Priced at a limited-time RMB 239,800 ($33,680) and coming standard with a 720km long battery life, plus limited-time complimentary perks such as an air suspension, a refrigerator, and a TV, the i6 signifies Li Auto’s increased focus on and investment in the pure electric vehicle segment.
Furthermore, the official stated that the MEGA has won the dual titles of “best-selling pure electric vehicle priced above RMB 500,000 ($70,225) in Q3” and “best-selling MPV priced above RMB 500,000 ($70,225) in a single quarter.”
In the fourth quarter, Li Auto will compete with its full lineup of extended-range and pure electric vehicles. Can it return to its delivery peak of 40,000 units—or even 50,000 units—per month?
Leapmotor
Leapmotor delivered a whopping 66,657 units in September, a 16.8% MoM increase—this growth is based on the already impressive 57,066 units delivered in August.
Looking at Leapmotor’s performance this year, it has consecutively crossed the monthly delivery thresholds of 40,000, 50,000, and 60,000 units, and is now approaching the 70,000-unit mark. It has also topped the new NEV manufacturer delivery rankings for 7 consecutive months.
It is worth noting that maintaining a monthly delivery volume of 70,000 units would equate to an annual delivery of 840,000 units—placing Leapmotor on par with mainstream automakers like Subaru (which sold 940,000 units in 2024), a second-tier global brand.
In September, Leapmotor launched two new models that define the brand’s upper and lower price limits: the Lafa 5, a stylish compact sports sedan, and the D19, a flagship large three-row SUV.
Among them, the Lafa 5—equipped with a 605km battery life and a lidar—has raised expectations for the configuration of compact pure electric vehicles.
The D19’s specifications also earn it the title of “configuration champion”; even when competing with popular models like the ONVO L90 and Lynk & Co 900, it holds its own (for more details, stay tuned for our follow-up coverage).
Xiaomi Auto
Xiaomi Auto exceeded the 40,000-unit monthly delivery mark for the first time in September.
Although Xiaomi Auto’s overall public attention in September was less intense amid the wave of new model launches, the brand’s momentum—coupled with a backlog of orders—means that production capacity remains the only constraint on its delivery volume.
For example, if you place an order for a standard Xiaomi YU7 now, the delivery date shown in the app still exceeds 40 weeks.
In September, rumors about derivative models of the YU7 began to circulate, with some bloggers releasing spy photos of a suspected high-performance version of the YU7. Additionally, with the launch of the Xiaomi 17 series smartphones, Xiaomi Auto’s premium personalized services were officially rolled out.
Considering that Xiaomi is likely to hold another brand press conference by the end of the year, it’s worth anticipating how Xiaomi Auto will further expand its product lineup.
HIMA
Harmony Intelligent Mobility (HIMA) delivered 52,916 units across its entire system in September, a 18.7% MoM increase from August. Its cumulative deliveries have now exceeded 950,000 units.
Meanwhile, Harmony Auto announced that new orders in September surpassed 110,000 units, setting a new brand record.
As of September, with the official launch of the Shangjie brand, Harmony Auto has fully formed a product matrix of “Five Brands, Ten Models.” Additionally, the launch of the AITO M7 has enabled Harmony Auto to complete a comprehensive upgrade of its product offerings in the new energy SUV market.
The remaining question is: will Harmony Auto launch an MPV model next?
Zeekr
Zeekr Technology Group sold 51,159 units in September, a 8.5% YoY increase and a 14.1% MoM growth.
This marks the first time Zeekr Technology Group has exceeded 50,000 monthly sales since its merger, and it has also maintained monthly sales of over 40,000 units for 7 consecutive months.
Breaking down the sales:
- The Zeekr brand sold 18,257 units in September, a 3.58% MoM increase from August;
- The Lynk & Co brand sold 32,902 units, a significant 20.89% MoM increase from August.
In September, Zeekr officially launched its flagship SUV, the 9X—a D-segment model with a starting price of RMB 465,900 ($65,435). It received over 10,000 new orders within 13 minutes of its release.
Furthermore, the Zeekr 001, 007, and 7X models will undergo a 900V upgrade in the fourth quarter, enhancing their core competitiveness.
For Lynk & Co, the large three-row SUV 900 has achieved monthly deliveries of 30,000 units for 4 consecutive months. Additionally, the 10EM-P has further expanded Lynk & Co’s plug-in hybrid product lineup.
IM Motors
IM Motors also set a new brand sales high in September, delivering 11,107 units—a remarkable 81.8% MoM increase from August.
As evident from its promotional materials, the all-new LS6 was the key driver behind IM Motors’ sales growth in September.
Equipped with a 66kWh large battery and an extended-range system with 450km pure electric range, the LS6 has established clear differentiated competitiveness in the RMB 200,000 ($28,090) price segment. It has also made premium features like rear-wheel steering and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) more accessible to consumers.
In the fourth quarter, IM Motors will launch its brand flagship SUV, the LS9—dubbed the “Lujiazui Range Rover.” Can IM Motors maintain its consecutive growth momentum with the support of this new model?
Voyah
In September, Dongfeng Voyah delivered 15,224 units, a 12.73% MoM increase from August.
From January to September this year, Voyah’s cumulative deliveries have increased by 85% compared to the same period last year.
Entering the fourth quarter, Voyah will launch two high-end brand models: the Zhuiguang L, a large sedan, and the Taishan, a large SUV.
Both models made their debut at the Voyah Style Night event last week. Among them, the Taishan comes standard with a 65kWh battery pack, offering a CLTC pure electric range of 370km; the Zhuiguang L, equipped with the same battery, delivers a pure electric range of 410km.
Additionally, the Taishan will be equipped with the ADS 4 advanced ADAS system, and its maximum of 4 lidars puts it on par with the AITO M9.
BAIC BJEV
BAIC BJEV (Beijing Automotive Group New Energy) exceeded 20,000 monthly sales for the first time in September, delivering 20,539 units—a 30.15% YoY increase and a 51.8% MoM growth.
Among these, ArcFox (a sub-brand of BAIC BJEV) sold 16,074 units in September, up 47.74% YoY and 52.3% MoM.
On September 11, ArcFox launched the T11—a key mass-market pure electric compact car and its flagship model for this year.
In less than 20 days, the T11 has received 35,000 new orders and is expected to become the core driver for BAIC BJEV to further boost its monthly sales in the fourth quarter.
Geely Galaxy
In September, Geely Galaxy sold 120,868 units, with YoY growth doubling to 131% and MoM growth reaching 9.22%.
Geely Galaxy’s September sales strategy remained focused on hybrid vehicles. The Galaxy M9—part of the “9 Series” and the most cost-effective model in the broader Geely ecosystem—officially launched in September, with a price range of RMB 173,800–238,800 ($24,410–$33,540), attracting high market attention.
In addition, models such as the Galaxy A7 and Xingyao 6 have further expanded Geely Galaxy’s product coverage in the entry-level market.
BYD
In September, BYD sold 393,060 new energy passenger vehicles—a 5.89% YoY decrease from September last year, but a 5.2% MoM increase from August this year.
By energy type:
- BYD’s pure electric passenger vehicle sales reached 164,956 units in September;
- Plug-in hybrid passenger vehicle sales hit 252,647 units.
Broken down by brand:
- Sales of the Dynasty and Ocean series (sold through dual sales networks) reached 355,774 units, a 3.77% MoM increase from August;
- Fangchengbao sold 24,121 units, a 48.3% MoM increase;
- Denza sold 12,407 units, a 3.45% MoM increase;
- Yangwang sold 758 units, a significant 87.16% MoM increase.
(End)
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