- Leapmotor hit a record with 101,267 July deliveries, becoming the first Chinese EV startup to top 100,000 monthly units.
- Zeekr, BYD and AION BU also grew in July, driven by strong models and rising overseas sales.
- Chinese automakers ramped global expansion in July, making overseas strategy the key battleground for future growth.
July has traditionally been a slow season for China’s auto market, but the downturn appeared even more pronounced this year.
According to projections from CPCA, July retail sales of narrow-sense passenger vehicles are expected to reach around 1.52 million units, down 16.8% year-on-year and 5.1% from June.
A surge in deliveries ahead of the mid-year sales push in June pulled forward demand, while extreme summer heat and severe weather further weighed on the market, causing sequential declines for most automakers.
Against this backdrop, only a handful of manufacturers managed to deliver both year-on-year and month-on-month growth: Leapmotor, Zeekr, Hyper+AION Business Unit (BU), and BYD.
Leapmotor delivered the strongest performance. The company surpassed 100,000 monthly deliveries for the first time, becoming the first Chinese EV startup to achieve the milestone.
Its 8.5% month-on-month increase was also the highest among automakers that had released July results by 8 p.m., allowing it to narrow the gap further with Geely Galaxy.
Zeekr, Hyper+AION BU and BYD also demonstrated resilience, supported by strong-performing models including the Zeekr 9X and 8X, AION i60 and BYD Datang, alongside continued growth in overseas sales.
July was also an exceptionally active month for Chinese automakers’ global expansion.
XPeng launched the MONA L03 in Germany, and Geely reached a joint-venture agreement with Ford for a factory in Spain.
BYD introduced the Racoo kei car in Japan, highlighting the industry’s accelerating search for a second growth engine overseas.
Short-term fluctuations in deliveries will eventually fade as competition intensifies.
What will ultimately determine automakers’ positions in the next phase is the strength of their global expansion strategies, product rollout execution and long-term investment in technology.
Below, ChinaEV Home breaks down the July performance of 13 major Chinese automakers.
NIO
NIO Inc. delivered 35,934 vehicles in July, down 11.5% from June but up 71% year-on-year.
All three of NIO Inc.’s brands posted month-on-month declines.
The NIO brand delivered 20,008 vehicles, down 8.7% from June and up 57.9% year-on-year.
ONVO delivered 10,155 vehicles, down 13.5% month-on-month while rising 69.9% year-on-year.
firefly delivered 5,771 vehicles, down 19.1% from June but surging 143.9% year-on-year.
As NIO’s current volume leader, the ES8 surpassed 130,000 cumulative deliveries on July 22.
At the current pace, cumulative deliveries are expected to exceed 150,000 by Sept. 20—the first anniversary of the all-new ES8—making it another milestone product for the company.
NIO’s focus in July centered on strengthening its existing lineup.
The NIO brand launched the five-seat ES8, while firefly expanded into the premium Halo series with its first model, Habitat.
Following the launch of the five-seat ES8 on July 9, NIO founder, chairman and CEO William Li said it marked “the final chapter” of the company’s intensive 2026 product offensive.
NIO will not introduce any additional all-new models this year, shifting its focus instead toward sales and operational execution.
XPeng
XPeng delivered 38,027 vehicles in July, down 5.2% from June but up 3.6% year-on-year.
The company’s biggest event during the month was the global debut of the MONA L03 in Munich, Germany, on July 16.
The L03 is the first SUV in the MONA lineup and XPeng’s first model to make its global debut outside China.
Beyond expanding the company’s volume portfolio, it also reflects XPeng’s broader strategy of accelerating overseas expansion throughout 2026.
European-spec versions of the L03 come equipped with XPeng’s second-generation VLA Turing intelligent driving platform.
According to the company, Highway NGP is expected to roll out in Europe later this year, followed by gradual deployment of urban NOA capabilities starting in 2027.
XPeng did not disclose July deliveries for the GX, which sold 6,737 units in June, suggesting the model has yet to surpass the 10,000-unit monthly threshold.
Meanwhile, spy photos of the XPeng G9L have recently surfaced, with the model expected to launch later this year.
With the MONA lineup laying the foundation for international expansion while the GX and G9L target the premium segment, 2026 has become one of XPeng’s busiest product years to date.
Li Auto
Li Auto delivered 30,468 vehicles in July, down 1.4% from June and 0.9% from a year earlier.
A large share of Li Auto’s deliveries continues to be driven by the Li i6, which has consistently maintained monthly sales above 20,000 units.
Although the all-new Li L8 and L9 entered their first full delivery month, overall July deliveries suggest the two models have yet to provide a meaningful boost to new orders.
Compared with the premium-positioned L8 and L9, the next-generation Li L6 Ultra—also part of the L Series—may prove more effective in lifting overall deliveries.
On July 16, Li Auto launched the next-generation Li L6 Ultra at RMB 249,800 ($36,800), eliminating the previous Pro and Max trims.
In its July delivery update, the company said cumulative deliveries of the Li L6 are expected to surpass 400,000 units in August.
With domestic demand under pressure, Li Auto has increasingly turned overseas for growth.
On July 15, the all-new Li L9 debuted in Kazakhstan. The company also announced a partnership with leading local automotive group Allur.
They began localized assembly at Allur’s Kostanay plant, making Kazakhstan the first country outside China to manufacture Li Auto vehicles.
July also marked Li Auto’s 11th anniversary. “In our first decade, we created a mobile home,” founder and CEO Li Xiang said. “In our second decade, we will give life to both cars and homes.”
With the refreshed Li L6, L8 and L9 now on the market, alongside the updated Li MEGA that recently appeared in China’s MIIT filing, the question is whether these new products can deliver a renewed growth trajectory for Li Auto.
Leapmotor
Leapmotor delivered 101,267 vehicles in July, up 8.5% from June and 102% year-on-year.
It was one of the few Chinese automakers to post both month-on-month and year-on-year growth in July, becoming the first Chinese EV startup to surpass 100,000 monthly deliveries.
The achievement stands out given the CPCA’s forecast that China’s narrow-sense passenger vehicle retail sales would fall 16.8% year-on-year in July.
On the product front, Leapmotor launched the all-new B01 and B10 during the month.
The two models brought features such as an 800V high-voltage platform and LiDAR to the RMB 100,000 ($14,720) price segment.
Overseas expansion also continued, with the brand entering the Mexican and Indonesian markets.
According to automotive blogger @孙少军09, nearly 80,000 of Leapmotor’s July sales came from the domestic market.
This suggests overseas deliveries exceeded 20,000 units and continued to support the company’s international growth.
Notably, the flagship Leapmotor D19 surpassed 10,000 monthly deliveries for the first time, reaching 10,043 units, demonstrating the brand’s ability to move further upmarket.
Leapmotor is also expected to launch at least one all-new model—the A05—later in 2026, indicating its domestic and overseas expansion is far from over.
Xiaomi EV
Xiaomi EV delivered more than 30,000 vehicles in July.
The company’s focus during the month centered entirely on the SkyNomad lineup, which entered pre-sales on July 30.
The SkyNomad N90 Max and SkyNomad N70 Max, priced at RMB 299,900 ($44,150) and RMB 259,900 ($38,260), respectively, are among the most competitive EREVs introduced this year.
Scheduled to begin deliveries in September, the two models represent Xiaomi EV’s second product line and could help lift its monthly deliveries beyond 40,000—or even 50,000—units.
Beyond the new models, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun revealed during the SkyNomad technology launch event that cumulative deliveries of the SU7 and YU7 have surpassed 700,000 units in just 27 months, setting a new delivery-speed record among Chinese EV startups.
From the next-generation SU7 and YU7 GT to the SkyNomad N90 and N70, 2026 has become Xiaomi EV’s busiest product year to date.
With such an aggressive rollout, can Xiaomi unlock another phase of delivery growth?
Huawei-backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA)
HIMA delivered 45,046 vehicles in July, down 11% from June and 5.7% year-on-year.
Alongside its monthly delivery figures, HIMA announced several milestones for key models:
- The all-new AITO M9 surpassed 20,000 cumulative deliveries just seven weeks after launch;
- The AITO M6 exceeded 40,000 deliveries within 97 days;
- The SAIC Z7 and Z7T passed 20,000 cumulative deliveries;
- The Luxeed V9 topped 10,000 deliveries in July alone.
The alliance’s biggest move during the month came on the software front.
On July 28, HIMA began rolling out its summer OTA update, introducing Huawei ADS 5 and the WEWA 2.0 World Engine, alongside new intelligent driving features such as Urban Roaming NCA.
On the product side, preparations focused on the Maextro V800 and V680, as well as the Stelato G9.
The three models are scheduled for launch or preview on Aug. 5, further expanding HIMA’s presence across additional market segments.
Zeekr
Zeekr delivered 35,837 vehicles in July, up 1.9% from June and 111% year-on-year.
According to Geely Automobile, global deliveries of the Zeekr 7X exceeded 10,000 units in July, bringing cumulative worldwide deliveries to nearly 180,000 units.
Meanwhile, the Zeekr 007 GT and Zeekr 001 shooting brake models each continued to post monthly sales above 10,000 units, lifting cumulative global deliveries of the Zeekr shooting brake family beyond 390,000.
Although Zeekr quietly launched the five-seat Zeekr 9X on July 28—priced from RMB 471,900 ($69,460)—without holding either an online or offline launch event, the brand’s most significant development in July was the rollout of Zeekr OS 7.2.
The OTA update is the largest software upgrade in Zeekr’s history, covering all models equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 cockpit platform.
It introduces 40 new features and 18 user experience improvements.
Its two headline upgrades are the introduction of the Super Eva AI voice assistant and the rollout of the Qianli Haohan G-ASD 4.0 intelligent driving system.
The latter adds capabilities including automated passage through staffed toll booths, improved driving performance on rural roads, and automatic curbside parking upon reaching a navigation destination.
Internationally, the Zeekr 007 GT launched simultaneously across 16 European markets during the month.
Zeekr 9X also made its European debut in Amsterdam, marking the beginning of its expansion into the region.
Voyah
Voyah delivered 13,189 vehicles in July, down 7.3% from June but up 8.7% year-on-year.
As the second half of the year began, Voyah immediately kicked off teaser campaigns for the remaining two models from its product strategy that have yet to launch.
In July, the all-electric FUV codenamed “FE”—officially named the Voyah Passion S—entered pre-sales at RMB 309,900 ($45,620).
The model comes standard with Huawei ADS 5, four 896-line LiDAR sensors, an 800V high-voltage platform, 5C ultra-fast charging, and a 98 kWh battery pack.
The product generated strong early interest, with more than 10,347 orders placed within the first hour of pre-sales. Official launch is expected in August.
Voyah also unveiled its highest-positioned product of the year—the premium MPV codenamed “Everest,” officially named the Voyah Dream 9.
Measuring 5,325 mm long with a 3,200 mm wheelbase, Dream 9 is one of the largest MPVs in its class.
The Dream 9 features an 896-line LiDAR sensor and three solid-state blind-spot LiDAR units.
The battery-electric version is equipped with a 120 kWh battery pack, second only to the previous-generation Zeekr 009 Kirin Battery Edition with its 140 kWh pack.
Voyah has shown a stronger push into the premium segment this year. Judging from sales over the first six months, the Dream remains the brand’s undisputed volume pillar.
The question now is whether the Zhuiguang S or Dream 9 can become its next high-volume model.
Deepal
Deepal sold 29,213 vehicles globally in July, down 13.1% month-on-month but up 7.5% year-on-year.
Of those, 20,500 units were sold in China, while 8,713 were delivered overseas.
By model, the Deepal S05 and Deepal L06 ranked first and second in July sales, delivering 14,059 and 7,267 units, respectively.
The refreshed Deepal S05 entered pre-sales on July 30 at RMB 119,900-151,900 ($17,650-$22,360). Higher-spec variants feature LiDAR and dual Horizon J6M chips, with the official launch scheduled for Aug. 6.
At the Chongqing Auto Show in June, Deepal CEO Deng Chenghao said all-new models launched in 2026 would gradually adopt LiDAR and advanced urban intelligent driving capabilities, while battery-electric models in the second half of the year would migrate to an 800V architecture with 6C ultra-fast charging.
Whether those technologies will eventually be introduced to the S05 remains uncertain.
GAC’s Hyper+AION BU
GAC’s Hyper+AION BU sold 34,987 vehicles in July, up 3.9% from June and 31.7% year-on-year.
Although the company said in its first-half report that retail customers now account for 81% of sales, changing public perception of the AION brand remains a longer-term challenge.
As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, AION announced plans to launch an all-new product series.
On July 28, AION officially introduced the youth-focused Ray lineup and unveiled its first model, the Ray7, through official images.
Meanwhile, the Hyper HT officially entered the Russian market on July 2, priced at 5.699 million rubles.
Looking ahead, Hyper plans to continue expanding into Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America, while gradually increasing overseas sales to 15%-20% of total volume.
Will the establishment of the Hyper+AION Business Unit mark a fresh starting point for both brands?
Chery Group
Chery Group sold 276,820 vehicles in July, down 7.9% from June but up 23.3% year-on-year.
New energy vehicle sales reached 129,067 units, rising 13.6% month-on-month and 97.5% year-on-year.
Chery’s expanding NEV lineup now covers multiple segments, including compact cars, off-road vehicles and sedans.
In July, the Chery Fulwin A9 received more than 31,000 orders within 15 days of pre-sales, while the all-new QQ3 recorded monthly sales above 10,000 units for a fourth consecutive month.
Elsewhere, the Zongheng F700 entered pre-sales, the 2027 Exeed ES was launched, and the first production unit of the Pathfinder 8 rolled off the assembly line.
Beyond the strong growth in its NEV business, Chery’s export performance attracted even greater attention.
The company set a new monthly export record for a Chinese automaker for the fifth time and became the first Chinese carmaker to export more than 200,000 vehicles in a single month.
Europe remains one of Chery’s key overseas markets, with exports spanning 24 countries and an increasing share coming from NEVs.
During the first half of the year, Chery exported 174,000 vehicles to Europe, up 212% year-on-year, including 86,000 NEVs, a 385% increase.
Geely New Energy
Geely Automobile sold 160,165 new energy vehicles in July, down 0.8% from June but up 23.1% year-on-year.
The total included 107,797 Geely Galaxy vehicles, 14,069 Lynk & Co new energy models, and 35,837 Zeekr deliveries.
Excluding Zeekr, both Geely Galaxy and the Lynk & Co NEV family recorded slight month-on-month declines.
To stimulate demand, Geely gave the Galaxy Battleship 700 its global debut, opened pre-sales for the Galaxy TT Ultra, and officially launched the Lynk & Co 07 GT during July.
The company’s biggest overseas development was its joint-venture agreement with Ford for a manufacturing facility in Spain.
The two companies will establish a joint venture at Ford’s Valencia plant to localize production of new energy vehicles.
Two NEV models are expected to be manufactured there, with the first scheduled to roll off the line in 2028, further strengthening Geely’s electrification strategy in Europe.
BYD
BYD sold 419,211 vehicles in July, up 3.9% from June and 21.8% year-on-year.
Passenger vehicle sales reached 411,072 units, increasing 3.5% month-on-month and 20.5% year-on-year.
Overseas sales totaled 179,841 vehicles, up 2.8% from June and 124.3% from a year earlier.
By brand, the Dynasty and Ocean series combined sold 350,178 vehicles, Fangchengbao delivered 41,213 units, Denza sold 19,196 units, and Yangwang delivered 485 vehicles.
Among the four brands, only Denza recorded a month-on-month decline, slipping 5.7%.
BYD launched only one new model in China during July—the Seal 08.
Overseas, its only notable product introduction was the Racco kei car for the Japanese market, making it a relatively quiet month for new product launches.
Instead, the company’s attention in 2026 has increasingly shifted toward overseas expansion—a strategy that was rewarded with overseas sales more than doubling year-on-year in July.
Even so, this may not represent the peak of BYD’s international momentum.
BYD’s passenger vehicle plant in Szeged, Hungary, is expected to begin production in the fourth quarter.
Ahead of its completion, company executives said in July that a location for BYD’s second European passenger vehicle factory is close to being finalized, with idle manufacturing sites in Spain and France among the leading candidates.
Once BYD completes the broad rollout of its second-generation Blade Battery, streamlines its product lineup, and brings its first European factory into operation, the company could enter an entirely new phase of global growth.
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