August NEV wholesale sales are estimated at 1.51 million units, up 16% YoY. BYD dominates with 433,384 units, while Leapmotor overtakes Tesla China for the fourth place, highlighting deepening polarization among new forces.
Dominant Leader: BYD's Unmatched Position
According to CPCA data, August nationwide NEV passenger vehicle wholesale sales reached an estimated 1.51 million units, up 16% year-on-year and 4% month-on-month. The divergence among leading manufacturers has become increasingly pronounced.
BYD posted August NEV wholesale sales of 433,384 units, up 5.4% MoM and 16.7% YoY. To put this in perspective, the combined sales of second-place Geely (173,675 units), third-place Chery (115,558 units), and fourth-place Leapmotor (103,129 units) totaled 392,362 units—still falling short of BYD alone. This marks BYD's 63rd consecutive month as China's NEV monthly sales champion.
Export performance deserves particular attention. BYD's overseas sales hit 189,000 units in August, surging 134.6% YoY and setting a new record for the fifth consecutive month. This dual-engine growth—domestic dominance plus explosive overseas expansion—is reshaping the global NEV landscape.
August NEV Wholesale Sales Top 10
| Rank | Manufacturer | August Sales (Units) | YoY | MoM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYD | 433,384 | +16.7% | +5.4% |
| 2 | Geely | 173,675 | +19.4% | +9.8% |
| 3 | Chery | 115,558 | +69.8% | -6.3% |
| 4 | Leapmotor | 103,129 | +80.7% | +1.8% |
| 5 | Tesla China | 86,166 | +3.6% | -7.9% |
| 6 | SAIC-GM-Wuling | 70,941 | — | — |
| 7 | SAIC Passenger | 57,708 | — | — |
| 8 | Changan | 57,092 | — | — |
| 9 | Great Wall | 40,695 | — | — |
| 10 | GAC Aion | 39,232 | — | — |
New Forces Reshuffle: Leapmotor Pulls Away
Among emerging brands, Leapmotor delivered 103,129 units globally in August, up 80.7% YoY, marking its second consecutive month above the 100,000-unit threshold. By comparable terminal registration data, Leapmotor now ranks among the top four global NEV brands and top three in China.
Leapmotor's rise is no accident. Its A10 has led Chinese-brand SUV sales for three straight months, while the D19 and D99 gain traction in the premium segment. Four product series span the 60,000 to 300,000 yuan range. Crucially, Leapmotor is accelerating overseas localization through Stellantis' manufacturing and distribution network, with Spanish plant assembly scheduled to begin in Q4.
The second tier is locked in fierce competition:
- XPeng: 39,107 units delivered in August, up 4% YoY, with MONA series cumulative deliveries exceeding 310,000
- Li Auto: 37,679 units, up 32.1% YoY, with L6 cumulative deliveries surpassing 400,000
- NIO: 35,836 units, up 14.5% YoY, covering NIO, Onvo, and Firefly brands
- Xiaomi Auto: Consistently above 30,000 units for five straight months
Key Metrics Comparison Among New Forces
- Delivery Scale: Leapmotor's 100K+ volume creates a gap exceeding 60,000 units over second place
- Growth Velocity: Zeekr delivered 36,981 units in August, soaring 109.8% YoY with seven consecutive months of dual growth
- Product Portfolio: Xiaomi's upcoming Pengcheng N90/N70 EREV SUVs target 40,000-50,000 monthly deliveries
Market Outlook: Wholesale Boom vs. Retail Softness
The CPCA notes a "wholesale boom but retail softness" dynamic. Vehicles wholesaled by manufacturers partly sit in channel inventory, while another portion flows to export markets. August NEV penetration is projected at 65.8%, yet terminal consumption has not fully kept pace with wholesale momentum.
For overseas buyers, these figures carry multiple implications:
- Chinese NEV production capacity continues expanding, ensuring ample export supply
- Leading brands are accelerating technology iterations, enhancing product competitiveness
- Overseas localization efforts by brands like Leapmotor will bring more direct supply chain support to Central Asian and Russian markets
As the traditional "Golden September and Silver October" peak season arrives, second-half competition will intensify. For dealers and importers in Central Asia and Russia, selecting brands with stable production capacity, mature export channels, and localization capabilities will be critical to mitigating procurement risks.
EX1000.COM continues monitoring China's NEV export dynamics, providing first-hand market intelligence for Central Asian and Russian buyers.
