Affordable Hatchback Dethrones Tesla Model Y as China's Best-Selling Vehicle

Daily Car

30/01/2026

In a significant shift in the Chinese automotive market, the Geely Galaxy Xingyuan, an affordable electric hatchback, has claimed the title of the country's best-selling vehicle for 2025. This marks the end of the Tesla Model Y's two-year reign and highlights the growing dominance of domestic brands in the world's largest car market.

Key Takeaways

The Geely Galaxy Xingyuan, priced from $9,500, became China's top-selling vehicle in 2025.
The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV secured the second position, with the Tesla Model Y dropping to third.
BYD maintained its status as China's leading automotive brand by volume.
Local Chinese brands collectively captured a significant 65% of the domestic market share.

A New King of the Road

The Geely Galaxy Xingyuan, also known as the Geely EX2 in export markets, registered an impressive 465,775 units in 2025. This subcompact EV, introduced in 2024, boasts a blend of accessible styling, a well-equipped interior, and competitive pricing, ranging from approximately $9,500 to $13,800. Its success underscores a growing consumer preference for value-oriented electric vehicles.

Local Brands Ascend

The second spot was claimed by the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, a compact electric hatchback from the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture. With 435,599 units sold, it saw an 82% increase over its 2024 sales, indicating strong demand for its updated design and five-door variant.

The once-dominant Tesla Model Y slipped to third place, selling 425,337 units. Despite a 11.5% decline in sales, it still performed strongly, especially considering the launch of an updated version.

Other notable performers in the top 10 include the BYD Qin Plus sedan (fourth), the Nissan Sylphy (fifth, and best-selling non-EV), the BYD Seagull (sixth), the BYD Qin L (seventh), the Xiaomi SU7 sedan (eighth), the Volkswagen Lavida (ninth), and the BYD Song Plus (tenth).

Market Dynamics Shift

Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reveals a significant trend: local brands are increasingly dominating the market. BYD led the pack as the top manufacturer with 3,484,525 vehicles sold, followed by Geely with 2,605,565 units. Chinese brands collectively accounted for 65% of the domestic market.

In contrast, many foreign automakers that previously held sway are struggling to keep pace. FAW-Volkswagen secured third place, but joint ventures from Toyota and Honda have fallen out of the top five. The rise of affordable, feature-rich electric vehicles from domestic manufacturers like Geely and BYD signals a profound transformation in China's automotive landscape.

2026-01-07

How Bosch and BMW Are Advancing Hydrogen Technology in the Automotive Industry

Explore how Bosch and BMW are driving hydrogen technology in trucks and manufacturing, including key technical features, benefits, and industry comparisons.