BYD sold more than 490,000 vehicles in October 2026, while Leapmotor, XPeng and Xiaomi posted major delivery milestones. Nio and Li Auto faced declines as Chinese automakers entered the final two months of the year.
China’s electric vehicle market entered the final two months of 2026 with strong sales from several major automakers, although the latest figures revealed significant differences in performance. BYD reported its best monthly sales of the year in October, while Leapmotor, XPeng and Xiaomi recorded impressive delivery numbers.
Not every manufacturer shared in the growth. Nio and Li Auto reported declining monthly deliveries, highlighting the intense competition facing electric vehicle companies in the world’s largest automotive market.
The October results, announced around November 1, showed how domestic pricing pressure, expanding overseas sales and new vehicle launches are reshaping the industry. Automakers are now preparing for the final sales push of 2026 as they attempt to meet annual targets and attract buyers ahead of the traditionally slower winter months.
BYD Sales Rise to 490,168 Vehicles
BYD remained one of China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturers in October, reporting sales of 490,168 new energy vehicles. The total represented an increase of approximately 11% compared with October 2025 and nearly 6% compared with September.
It was the company’s sixth consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth and its highest monthly total of 2026. However, the results also showed that BYD’s performance varied considerably between its domestic and international operations.
The company sold 305,743 battery-electric passenger vehicles in October, an increase of more than 37% from a year earlier. This marked the first time its monthly sales of fully electric passenger cars exceeded 300,000.
Fully electric vehicles accounted for approximately 63% of BYD’s passenger vehicle sales during the month. That was a significant increase from about 51% in October 2025, indicating a shift in demand toward battery-powered models.
Sales of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles moved in the opposite direction. BYD sold 177,382 hybrids, a decline of approximately 17% compared with the previous year.
The contrast suggests that the company’s fully electric vehicles are becoming increasingly important to its overall performance. BYD has been updating its lineup with new technology, improved batteries and faster charging capabilities.
On October 20, the company introduced the second-generation Seagull, with flash-charging technology available on selected versions. The updated compact electric car is part of BYD’s effort to remain competitive in the affordable vehicle market.
However, October’s sales figures do not establish how much of BYD’s overall growth came specifically from flash-charging technology. The company also benefited from expanding overseas demand and broader changes to its product lineup.
Overseas Demand Drives BYD Growth
International sales were a major source of growth for BYD during October. The company reported 170,194 overseas vehicle sales, an increase of approximately 103% compared with the same month in 2025.
The figure represented more than one-third of the company’s total monthly sales. BYD’s international expansion has become increasingly important as competition and pricing pressure affect its home market.
Domestic sales reached 319,974 vehicles in October, down approximately 11% from a year earlier. However, they improved by more than 13% compared with September, indicating some recovery from the previous month.
The company sold approximately 1.51 million vehicles overseas during the first ten months of 2026. That was nearly double the number recorded during the comparable period in 2025.
Reuters reported that international demand helped BYD maintain overall sales growth despite difficult conditions in China. The results demonstrate how expanding exports can offset weaker performance in an automaker’s domestic business.
BYD sold 3.62 million new energy vehicles worldwide during the first ten months of the year. That total remained slightly below its performance during the same period in 2025, despite its recent monthly gains.
Leapmotor Reaches Another Delivery Record
Leapmotor continued its rapid expansion in October, delivering a record 106,127 vehicles worldwide. The total represented growth of approximately 51% compared with October 2025.
It was the company’s fourth consecutive month with more than 100,000 deliveries. Leapmotor has become an increasingly important competitor by offering electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids across relatively affordable price categories.
The company delivered 772,666 vehicles during the first ten months of 2026, an increase of approximately 66% from the same period last year. Its performance reflects substantial growth even as competition intensifies.
However, reaching Leapmotor’s annual target of one million vehicles remains challenging. The company needs another 227,334 deliveries during November and December to achieve that goal.
That would require an average of approximately 113,667 vehicles per month, exceeding October’s record. The next two months will determine whether Leapmotor can maintain enough momentum to reach its target.
XPeng Breaks Monthly Delivery Record
XPeng achieved its strongest monthly performance to date, delivering 50,237 vehicles in October. The figure represented increases of approximately 20% from a year earlier and 22% compared with September.
The result marked XPeng’s first month with more than 50,000 deliveries. Its previous monthly record was 42,013 vehicles, established in October 2025.
International deliveries contributed significantly to the increase. XPeng delivered 13,326 vehicles overseas, up 166% from a year earlier and accounting for more than one-quarter of its October total.
The company’s domestic deliveries also improved. Approximately 36,911 vehicles were delivered within China, the highest domestic monthly figure in a year.
XPeng has continued expanding its vehicle lineup while investing in driver-assistance technology and international markets. The company introduced its L05 model in October, with deliveries scheduled to begin in November.
Despite the monthly record, XPeng’s year-to-date performance remained below the previous year. It delivered 334,604 vehicles during the first ten months, approximately 6% fewer than during the comparable period in 2025.
The company previously announced an ambition to exceed 60,000 monthly deliveries during the fourth quarter. October’s result represented progress toward that level, although it remained below the target.
Xiaomi Maintains Strong EV Momentum
Xiaomi, which entered the automotive industry after establishing itself as a major smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer, also posted strong October results.
The company reported delivering more than 50,000 vehicles during the month, its highest monthly total of 2026. Xiaomi did not disclose the precise number or provide a detailed breakdown by model.
This was only the second time Xiaomi’s monthly deliveries exceeded 50,000 vehicles. The previous occasion was December 2025, when it delivered 50,212 vehicles.
The October performance represented a recovery after two consecutive months of year-over-year declines. It also reinforced Xiaomi’s growing presence among established Chinese automakers.
However, Xiaomi faces a difficult task in meeting its full-year delivery target of 550,000 vehicles. Its reported deliveries through October were substantially below the pace required to reach that figure without a major increase during the final two months.
The company must balance production expansion with demand for its existing models and new vehicle introductions. Its progress illustrates the opportunities available to technology companies entering the automotive business, as well as the challenges of scaling production.
Nio and Li Auto Report Declining Deliveries
While several competitors reported strong gains, Nio delivered 34,246 vehicles in October, down approximately 15% from a year earlier and 8% from September.
The decline ended a prolonged period of year-over-year monthly growth. October was also Nio’s weakest delivery month since April.
Nio’s results included 18,125 vehicles from its main brand, 8,383 from Onvo and 7,738 from Firefly. Performance differed considerably across the three brands.
The main Nio brand recorded modest annual growth, while Firefly continued expanding. However, Onvo deliveries declined sharply compared with October 2025, contributing to the company’s overall decrease.
Despite the weaker month, Nio delivered 334,547 vehicles during the first ten months of 2026, approximately 38% more than during the same period last year. Its longer-term growth therefore remained positive.
Li Auto also experienced weaker October demand, delivering 29,025 vehicles. That was approximately 9% below both its September performance and the previous year’s level.
The company introduced an updated Li i6 on October 28, with deliveries beginning the following day. Li Auto is planning to increase production capacity for the model during November and December.
Its ability to expand sales of recently introduced vehicles could influence its performance during the final quarter. However, new product launches do not guarantee immediate increases in deliveries.
Competition Intensifies Ahead of Year-End
The October figures demonstrate that China’s electric vehicle industry is not moving in a single direction. Some manufacturers are setting records, while others face slowing demand and increasing pressure from rival brands.
Pricing, charging speed, battery technology, vehicle quality and available models are all important factors in the competition. Overseas expansion is also becoming a major source of growth for companies facing difficult conditions at home.
The published figures include different categories of vehicles. BYD’s totals combine battery-electric and plug-in hybrid sales, while other companies report deliveries across their own model ranges.
Sales and deliveries also measure different stages of the automotive business, so company totals are not always directly comparable. Even so, the figures provide a useful indication of the scale and direction of each manufacturer’s operations.
November and December will bring additional pressure as automakers attempt to meet annual sales targets. BYD is preparing more product updates, while Leapmotor, XPeng and Li Auto are working to expand deliveries of recently introduced models.
The next set of monthly reports will show whether October’s strongest performers can maintain their growth. They will also indicate whether Nio and Li Auto can recover as China’s electric vehicle manufacturers compete for buyers during the final weeks of 2026.
IMAGE: BYD Dolphin at IAA 2023. Photo: Alexander-93 / Wikimedia, taken 2023-09-05, CC BY-SA 4.0