10 June 2026
The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) markets in China struggled again in April. But was there any consistency among the best-selling models? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the latest data.
China’s electric vehicle (EV) market continued its downward spiral in April, as BEVs and PHEVs lost ground compared to 2025.
The month saw a total of 580,303 BEVs sold in China, according to the latest data provided by EV Volumes. This was a 4.4% decline compared to 12 months prior. However, in terms of both volumes and year-on-year performance, April represented the best month for the market so far.
China’s BEV market struggled in the first four months of 2026. Between January and April, 1,752,462 units were sold in the country, a drop of 18.1%.
While China’s all-electric market experienced turbulence, PHEV sales were even shakier in April. A total of 247,510 units reflected the best monthly result of the year in terms of volume. However, this was 33.2% down compared to April 2025.
That meant that four months into the year, deliveries were down by 35.5%, with 881,436 units taking to Chinese roads. The country’s new PHEV market may struggle to record growth across 2026 unless sales ramp up in the coming months.
Back to the BEV summit
The Geely Geome Xingyuan climbed to the top of the BEV table in April. Last year’s overall best-seller had been languishing behind its rivals at the start of 2026. However, with 35,249 sales in the month, it dominated the market for the first time in 2026.
The Geely model increased its market share by 0.1 percentage points (pp) in April. This meant it accounted for 6.1% of all BEV sales in China. However, its overall sales volume dropped 2.8%, compared to April 2025.
Coming in second was the Xiaomi SU7. This was the model’s first appearance in the top 10 so far this year. Meanwhile, its sibling, the YU7, dropped out of the table for the first time this year.
The SU7 achieved 26,768 deliveries in April, 6.4% down year on year. The result was good enough for a 4.6% market share, a drop of 0.1pp.
Rounding out the top three was the Tesla Model Y. The US carmaker was another to experience a mixed month. The crossover achieved 23,206 sales, up 16.1% compared to April 2025. This gave it a market share of 4%, up by 0.7pp.
But while the Model Y remained popular, the carmaker’s Model 3 failed to make the top 10 for the second time this year. It ended up outside the top 50 best-selling BEVs in April.
BYD builds again
Taking fourth was the Li Auto I6, maintaining its run of results in the Chinese top four this year. With 20,986 units sold in its eighth month on the market, it took a 3.6% share.
A trio of BYD models followed, led by the Sealion 06. With 17,339 deliveries, it took 3% of the market. It was followed by the Yuan Up, with 15,884 sales, down by 1% year on year. Next came the BYD Dolphin, which experienced a volume jump of 53.5%, as its 14,312 units provided positivity for the Chinese carmaker.
A new entrant to the top 10, the Qiyuan Q05 took eighth with 13,763 units, a record result for the model in its eighth month on the market. Meanwhile, the Nio ES8, which has been a strong performer in 2026, fell to ninth, with 13,524 sales.
Rounding out the top 10 was the Xpeng M03, with 12,941 deliveries, an 8.9% decrease compared to the same month last year.
Tesla tops the BEV chart
While it slipped to third in April’s table, the Tesla Model Y held the top spot in China’s cumulative chart. This was thanks to consistent performances, including topping the table in February and March. With 105,309 sales across four months, it held 6% of the market.
Thanks to its chart-topping result in April, the Geely Geome Xingyuan jumped to second, with 92,398 units. Although it sat 12,911 sales behind the Tesla, it could close the gap with continued strong results. In April, it achieved 12,043 more sales than the Model Y.
Having fallen out of the monthly top 10, the Xiaomi YU7 slipped to third place in the cumulative results. However, as a mark of its stronger showing elsewhere in the year, it maintained a top-three place. With 81,588 sales, the model held 4.7% of the market. However, with the Geome Xingyuan topping April’s chart, the YU7 fell 10,810 sales behind this rival.
Fang Cheng Bao leads PHEV sector
For the fourth month in succession, the PHEV market was led by the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7. As in March, it held a slender lead over second place. The model achieved 12,901 sales in April, taking a 5.2% market share.
The model has been a standout performer in China’s ailing new PHEV market. Yet its reign at the top of the pile could end soon. In April, it was only 199 units ahead of the BYD Song Pro.
The BYD model has also been a consistent performer in China’s PHEV market this year. While the brand is struggling overall, it still maintains a dominant grip on the powertrain sector. In April, five of the top 10 PHEV models came from the stable.
The Song Pro saw 12,702 deliveries in the month, for a 5.1% market share. While this was a jump of 1.3pp, its volumes dropped by 10.9% year on year. Yet this decline was the best of the BYD bunch. Sitting third was the Qin Plus, with deliveries falling 46.5%. Its market share also fell by 1pp, to 3.8%.
Fourth went to the Zeekr 9X, with 9,302 units moved in its eighth month on sale. Meanwhile, the BYD Seal 6 rounded out the top five with 7,187 deliveries. This was a 48.8% decline, highlighting the carmaker’s struggles in its domestic market during 2026.
BYD struggles pull market down
The Aito M7 ended April in sixth with 6,549 sales, a 62.7% year-on-year rise. While its share increased by 1.5pp to 2.6%, the model has been unable to keep up the strong momentum from earlier in the year.
Seventh was taken by the Wey Gaoshan, with 5,571 sales. Volumes increased by 1,732.6%, as it powered forward in its domestic market. The Li Auto L6 took eighth with 5,374 deliveries, a 67.9% decline compared to April 2025.
Completing the top 10 were a pair of BYD models, with the Song L in ninth, as 4,861 units represented a 56.2% decline. In 10th was the Qin L, with 4,830 units delivered to customers. This was the worst decline for BYD models in the top 10, as volumes dropped 60.2% year on year.
A dominant performance
Following its consistently strong performances, the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 lead the cumulative chart after four months of 2026. With 55,578 units, it held 6.3% of the market. Thanks to its domination in January and February, it maintained an 11,103-unit gap over second place.
Maintaining second was the BYD Song Pro. It did this despite recording year-on-year volume declines in each of the four months of 2026. With 44,475 units, it held a 5% share of the PHEV market between January and April.
The BYD Qin Plus jumped into third, deposing the Aito M7. This was thanks to differing performances, with the BYD just 780 units ahead of its rival. The Qin Plus represented 3.7% of PHEV sales after four months, despite significant losses year on year.
