March NEV Sales: Xiaomi's Single Model Nears 30K, Leapmotor Overtakes NIO/XPeng/Li Auto

With the release of the March car sales rankings, the sales data for the first quarter of 2025 has also been finalized.

The sales performance of the entire automotive market in March did not show significant changes, as a single month is relatively short, but there are still some noteworthy trends worth analyzing.

For example, Leapmotor surpassed the commonly mentioned trio of NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto for the first time in March, ranking first in the monthly sales chart of new automakers. Leapmotor, which has consistently focused on in-house R&D of automotive technologies and emphasized cost-effectiveness, has found new growth opportunities in the broader automotive market.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi SU7 continues its strong sales momentum, with deliveries exceeding 29,000 units in March. This not only surpassed the delivery volume of the Tesla Model 3 but also set new sales records in the domestic pure electric sedan segment priced above 200,000 yuan.

Spring 2025 has arrived, and today we’ll take a look at the final monthly sales rankings of the first quarter to see which automakers are showing the most vitality.

NIO

In March, NIO delivered 15,039 new vehicles, bringing its first-quarter deliveries to 42,094 units, a year-on-year increase of 40.1%.

The first half of the year can be seen as a transitional period for NIO’s main brand before the launch of new models. Rumors about upcoming NIO models, such as the "5566" series and other vehicles based on the NT3 platform, have already begun circulating. Many consumers are waiting to see what’s next and are in no hurry to make a purchase.

Recently, NIO’s Qin Lihong mentioned at an EP Club event that the 2025 NIO main brand models will offer additional features—such as in-car refrigerators, large screens, and comfortable sofas—without raising prices.

The ET5 and ET5T have already received updates to their energy consumption data, suggesting that the 2025 NIO main brand updates will start with these models.

The new ET5 with a 75 kWh battery now boasts a CLTC range of 585 km, while the 100 kWh battery version reaches 740 km.

XPeng

XPeng delivered 33,205 vehicles in March, a staggering year-on-year increase of 268%.

The primary driver of XPeng’s sales growth currently comes from the highly cost-effective M03 and P7+ models. The M03 has maintained monthly deliveries of over 15,000 units for four consecutive months, while the P7+ has surpassed cumulative deliveries of 40,000 units in four months.

This week, the M03 also celebrated its 100,000th unit produced. He Xiaopeng described this as a small milestone for new automakers in the pure electric vehicle segment. The next goal for the M03 is to achieve monthly deliveries of 20,000 units, with He Xiaopeng stating that the production rate for the next 100,000 units will accelerate.

In April, we’ll learn more about models like the G7 and the refreshed X9. Will XPeng, which has consistently focused on improving cost-effectiveness, accelerate toward its monthly sales target of 40,000 units?

Li Auto

Li Auto sold 36,674 vehicles in March, bringing its first-quarter deliveries to 92,864 units.

Li Auto’s first-quarter deliveries continue to grow year-on-year. Since its inception, the brand has cumulatively delivered over 1.2 million vehicles, with its L-series models surpassing 1 million units sold.

Earlier, Li Auto’s 2025 sales target was revealed: the brand aims to sell 700,000 units, including 50,000 pure electric vehicles. Given that the i8 is set to launch in July, the pure electric segment is still in its early stages, so Li Auto has set a relatively conservative target.

However, considering the intense competition in the high-end extended-range electric vehicle market this year, whether software and hardware upgrades for the L-series can maintain their appeal amid rival offerings remains to be seen.

Leapmotor

Leapmotor delivered 37,095 vehicles in March, a year-on-year increase of over 154%.

In March, Leapmotor topped the sales chart among new automakers, marking its first small achievement in sales this year.

Leapmotor has consistently focused on in-house R&D to reduce costs. This year, it will upgrade all its models under the LEAP 3.5 architecture, with the newly launched B-series poised to become a strong competitor in the 100,000 to 150,000 yuan price range.

The first model in the B-series, the B10, opened for pre-orders on March 10 and will officially launch on April 10. With a pre-order price of 130,000 yuan and standard features like lidar and urban smart driving, it is set to be a key player in this year’s smart driving普及 (popularization) competition.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Auto delivered over 29,000 units in March, approaching the 30,000 mark.

With just the SU7, Xiaomi has achieved monthly sales nearing 30,000 units. Moreover, March sales grew by 45% month-on-month—a remarkable growth rate given that deliveries have consistently exceeded 20,000 units for several months.

Next month, we’ll learn more about Xiaomi’s first YU7 model, as Xiaomi Auto enters its second year of deliveries and a new phase of development. Although Xiaomi’s official 2025 sales target is 350,000 units, expectations for the brand are much higher.

Zeekr

Zeekr Technology Group sold 40,715 units in March, with the Zeekr brand accounting for 15,422 of those.

Zeekr’s focus this year is on launching new high-end models while maintaining steady sales of existing ones. The 9X, jokingly referred to as the "Hangzhou Bay Cullinan," is expected to be priced higher than the Lynk & Co 900, which has a pre-sale price of 350,000 to 450,000 yuan.

The Zeekr 007 remains the sales leader, with the upcoming 007GT shooting brake variant set to boost sales further. We’ve already test-driven the 007GT, and a review video will be released soon.

The Zeekr 001 pioneered the domestic pure electric shooting brake segment and achieved strong sales. Can the 007GT replicate this success?

Meanwhile, can the 9X help Zeekr establish a foothold in the 500,000 yuan luxury market and further elevate the brand’s premium image? These are key points to watch for Zeekr in April.

IM Motors

IM Motors delivered 5,029 units in March, a year-on-year increase of 67% and a month-on-month increase of 46%.

This year is also a big one for IM Motors in terms of new model launches. The new L6 is about to hit the market, and we’ll soon have the chance to test-drive it. Additionally, IM Motors may accelerate the launch of extended-range electric vehicles, with the first likely being an extended-range version of the LS6.

Currently, IM Motors is in a transitional phase of model updates, much like many other brands. More details about its new models will be revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Voyah

Voyah delivered 10,012 units in March, bringing its first-quarter deliveries to 26,034 units—a year-on-year increase of 59%.

Voyah’s sales performance in the first quarter has been stable, with the Dreamer being its best-selling model. By adopting Huawei’s Qiankun smart driving technology, Voyah has addressed the lack of smart features in the 300,000 to 400,000 yuan MPV segment.

However, in the rapidly evolving automotive market, both the FREE and Voyah Passion models need to introduce new variants to maintain consumer interest and relevance.

Avatr

Avatr sold 10,475 units in March, doubling both year-on-year and month-on-month.

This year, Avatr launched the more affordable 06 model, with pre-order prices starting at 215,900 yuan for both extended-range and pure electric versions. Official data shows that within 26 hours of opening pre-orders, 20,117 reservations were made.

However, the 06 enters the fiercely competitive 200,000 yuan sedan market, where rivals include NIO, Xiaomi, Tesla, and BYD. Even traditional luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have lowered prices for their B-segment sedans to the 200,000–250,000 yuan range.

Aion

Aion sold 34,082 units in March, a year-on-year increase of 4.8% and a month-on-month increase of 63.4%.

This year is critical for Aion as it shifts its focus. The recently launched RT and UT models target younger consumers and have shown some success.

Furthermore, responding to the accelerating adoption of smart driving technologies this year, Aion has aligned itself with industry leaders like BYD and Geely through its Xingling Zhixing initiative.

Deepal

Deepal delivered 24,371 units in March, a year-on-year increase of 86.7% and a month-on-month increase of 30%.

Deepal has been proactive in adopting smart driving technology. With Huawei’s Qiankun smart driving system, it has performed well in the 150,000–200,000 yuan segment.

Next, Deepal aims to launch higher-end models. At the March 29 Hundred People Forum, CEO Deng Chenghao announced that the mid-to-large six-seat SUV S09 will debut in April, joining the intense competition in the domestic "9-series" large SUV market.

Geely Galaxy

In March, Geely Galaxy’s new energy sales reached 90,032 units, up 18% month-on-month and 290% year-on-year. First-quarter cumulative sales hit 259,709 units, a 214% year-on-year increase.

Geely Galaxy has also emerged as a key player in the smart driving technology revolution. At its AI launch event in early March, the brand officially became an independent entity under Geely Group, taking charge of the group's new energy vehicle sales in the competitive 100,000-250,000 yuan price segment.

In the first half of the year, Geely Galaxy will launch two important new models: the plug-in hybrid sedan Xingyao 8 and a yet-to-be-announced large SUV.

BYD

In March, BYD’s global sales reached 377,420 units, with passenger vehicle sales at 371,419 units—a 23.1% year-on-year increase.