August 2026 delivery data for China's new force automakers is out. Leapmotor leads with 103,100 units, Li Auto surged 23.7% MoM to 37,700 units, and Xiaomi maintained above 30,000 units for the fifth consecutive month.
Overview: Leapmotor's Dominant Lead
In August 2026, Chinese new force automakers maintained high delivery volumes, but the headwinds divergence intensified. Leapmotor continued its dominant lead with 103,100 units, up 1.8% month-over-month and 80.7% year-over-year, marking its second consecutive month above the 100,000-unit threshold.
| Rank | Brand | August Delivery | MoM Growth | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leapmotor | 103,100 units | +1.8% | +80.7% |
| 2 | HIMA | 42,100 units | — | — |
| 3 | XPeng | 39,100 units | +2.8% | +3.7% |
| 4 | Li Auto | 37,700 units | +23.7% | +32.1% |
| 5 | Zeekr | 37,000 units | +3.2% | +109.8% |
| 6 | NIO | 35,800 units | — | +14.5% |
| 7 | Xiaomi | 30,000+ units | — | — |
Key Brand Analysis
Leapmotor: Technology-Driven High Growth
Leapmotor's sustained 100K+ monthly deliveries stem from autonomous technology and cost advantages:
- Independently masters 65% of core components related to vehicle costs
- Operates 18 in-house component factories
- Platform commonality rate reaches 90%
- Core and high-value components self-developed and manufactured
This model proves that technology self-research + vertical integration can support scalable profitability.
Li Auto: Strong Rebound Driven by Product Cycle
Li Auto delivered 37,700 units in August, up 23.7% MoM and 32.1% YoY. Cumulative deliveries have surpassed 1.8 million units, making it the first new force brand to reach this milestone.
Key drivers:
- Li i6 ranked top 3 in 200K+ yuan vehicle sales for 7 consecutive months
- New Li L6 contribution increased
- Next-gen Li MEGA and flagship i9 launching in September
Zeekr: The Dark Horse with Doubled Growth
Zeekr delivered 37,000 units in August, surging 109.8% YoY, achieving 7 consecutive months of dual growth. Jan-Aug cumulative deliveries reached 251,000 units, up 100.4%.
The "30K Club" Collective Challenge
XPeng (39.1K), Li Auto (37.7K), Zeekr (37K), NIO (35.8K), and Xiaomi (30K+) — five brands clustered in the 30-40K range, forming a "trapped at 30K" phenomenon.
This reflects:
- 30K monthly volume is seen as the "ticket" to stay in the game
- But volume alone doesn't guarantee profitability; price-volume relationship matters more
- All brands are preparing new products for the "Golden September" season
Outlook: Key September Events
September will bring several critical variables:
- Next-gen Li MEGA + pure electric flagship i9 launch
- Xiaomi Autumn Launch (Sept 7): Pengcheng series EREV SUVs
- Zeekr 9X going global: Entering overseas markets
- NIO ES9: Targeting the 500K+ yuan premium segment
For more new force sales data and market analysis, visit EX1000.COM.
