China’s PHEV sales drop for the first time since 2020
23 January 2026
China’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market experienced its first monthly decline for some time as the sector’s slowdown continued. But are battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) also experiencing troubles? Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the figures.
November 2025 saw China’s PHEV market suffer its first decline in monthly sales since June 2020. BEV growth also slowed, although overall volumes remained high, according to the latest data from EV Volumes.
PHEV deliveries declined by 3.4% in November, with 527,751 units sold during the month. The country has experienced a dramatic slowdown in deliveries since July. Results are being compared with increased demand in 2024 and a decline in sales of popular BYD models.
Meanwhile, BEV sales increased by 11.9% in the month. With 852,945 deliveries, this was the second-highest volume of the year.
PHEV slowdown impacting results
Between January and November, PHEV deliveries grew by 15.9%. In total, 4,971,816 units were delivered in the timeframe. In the first half of 2025, PHEV sales in China increased by 35.7%. However, in the five months between July and November, deliveries only increased by 1.5%.
The PHEV market saw increased competition across the first 11 months of 2025. While BYD continued to dominate, unit totals for a number of its models were down year on year. Meanwhile, other brands, such as Galaxy, Aito and Fang Cheng Bao impressed. This indicated the potential of a more diverse market, albeit one with fewer sales.
The BEV market continued its strong growth. It recorded 7,454,241 sales equating to a rise of 33.4% in the 11-month period.
BYD leads but others impress
The BYD Qin Plus ended November as the best-selling PHEV in China. The model amassed 33,000 sales, equating to a 21.7% year-on-year rise. With a 6% market share, it increased its hold by 0.9 percentage points (pp) on November 2024.
Continuing an impressive run in only its fourth month on the market, the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 placed second in November. With 24,019 deliveries, it was not far behind the leading BYD model. The PHEV achieved a 4.4% market share in the month.
Taking third was the Aito M7, which bounced back with strong results in both October and November. It achieved 22,892 deliveries in the 11th month of the year, an improvement of 70.6%. This total helped the M7 secure 4.2% of total PHEV sales in the month, up by 1.7pp.
A dominant run
BYD managed to secure fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth spots to keep its top 10 domination intact. The first model in this run was new to the market. The BYD Seal 5 achieved 21,002 sales in its first month, hinting at a strong future for the model. The total was enough for a 3.8% market share.
The BYD Seal 6 followed after suffering a 49.4% drop in volumes year on year. Its 14,901-unit total was enough for a 2.7% market share, down 2.9pp. The Seal 06 has struggled in recent months when compared with its initial popularity.
Sixth went to the BYD Song Pro. With 12,973 deliveries in November, its sales fell by 37.1% compared to the volume recorded a year prior. This was enough for a 2.4% market share, dropping by 1.5pp year on year.
Galaxy’s PHEV making a mark
Chinese brand Galaxy secured seventh and eighth in November’s PHEV market. The new Galaxy A7 took the higher of the two positions in its sixth month on the market. With 12,899 units hitting Chinese roads, it held 2.4% of the market and was just 74 units away from the BYD Song Pro.
The Galaxy Starship 7, which started the year strongly, ended November in eighth. With 12,001 deliveries, the model achieved a 2.2% market share.
The last BYD in the top 10, the Song L, saw a 54.3% drop compared to the previous year, with 11,029 sales. The 2% hold of the PHEV total was down by 2.6pp, highlighting the carmakers’ uneven market performance.
Galaxy secured the final spot in the top 10 with its M9 model. It achieved 10,639 sales in its fourth month on the market, with a 1.9% share of the total.
BYD holds firm
The cumulative top 10 table for 2025 remained mostly unchanged between October and November. Despite various models struggling, BYD’s market dominance was still apparent, as it held the top five spots and seven of the 10 placings.
Continuing to lead the pack after 11 months was the BYD Qin Plus, with 251,509 units and a 5.1% market share. This was followed by the BYD Seal 06, with 190,478 deliveries and a 3.8% hold of the PHEV total.
Following this was the BYD Song Plus, with 177,377 sales and a 3.6% market share. This is thanks to a strong start to 2025, with deliveries stagnating across the year. Between August and November 2025, the model only appeared in the monthly top 10 chart once.
Fourth went to the BYD Song Pro with 166,974 units, and a 3.4% share of the PHEV total. Rounding out the top five was the BYD Qin L, with 158,380 sales and a 3.2% hold. This is despite the model not featuring in November’s top 10.
Early results matter
Another model that relying on earlier 2025 results was the Li Auto L6. After a slower October and November, its 153,840 sales kept it in sixth after 11 months of 2025. This was enough for a 3.1% market share.
Seventh went to the BYD Song L, with 133,058 sales between January and November, it took a 2.7% hold. Following it was the Aito M8 which did not feature in November’s charts. With 131,811 sales, it secured a 2.7% share of the PHEV market after 11 months of 2025.
The Galaxy Starship 7 jumped one place to ninth after November’s results with 122,156 deliveries and a 2.5% share. This was at the expense of the BYD Destroyer 05, which rounded out the top 10 thanks to 116,767 sales, and a 2.3% hold of total PHEV volumes.
Wuling comeback continues
For the third month in a row, the Wuling Mini topped the BEV monthly table, continuing a comeback after a period of slower sales. The model achieved 56,756 deliveries in November, a 63.2% year-on-year improvement. Its 6.7% market share in the month was an increase of 2.1pp.
For the first time in 2025, the Tesla Model Y experienced growth outside of an ‘end-of-quarter’ month. November saw the US car achieve 47,132 sales, a 5.7% rise. However, with increased competition, its market share declined by 0.3pp.
The Geely Geome Xingyuan ended the month in third with 42,038 deliveries. This was a rise of 109.8%, although November 2024 represented the model’s third month on sale. Its market share climbed by 2.3pp to 4.9%.
Taking fourth was the Xiaomi YU7. In its sixth month on sale, it achieved 33,729 deliveries. This meant it took a 4% share of the market.
Meanwhile, in fifth was the Tesla Model 3. With 26,013 deliveries in China, it saw a 10% decline in volumes compared to November 2024. This was enough for a 3% hold of BEV totals, a drop of 0.8pp compared to 12 months prior.
BYD ups its pace
BYD’s place in China’s BEV market continued to grow in November. The brand secured four spots in the monthly top 10, with a run between sixth and eighth. Topping the BYD model placings in sixth was the Sea Lion 6 with 22,093 sales. This was good enough for a 2.6% share of total BEV deliveries in November.
Following this was the BYD Seagull, with 21,807 deliveries in the month. This was another steep decline for the model, with volumes down by 61.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Its 2.6% share was a drop of 4.8pp, as increased internal competition played a part.
In eighth was the BYD Yuan Up, with 20,628 models taking to Chinese roads, a drop of 3.6%. Its market share fell slightly, from 2.8% in November 2024 to 2.4%.
The Wuling Bingo S continued an impressive show of form. The model entered the top 10 in October, its first month on sale in China. In November, it remained in the chart, taking ninth with 17,959 sales and a 2.1% market share.
Rounding out the top 10 was the BYD Dolphin. It saw 17,320 deliveries, a 3.8% year-on-year rise. However, with increased competition, its 2% share of the BEV total was down by 0.2pp.
Geely leads as gap closes
After 11 months of 2025, the Geely Geome Xingyuan still held the lead in the cumulative top 10 table. With 429,791 deliveries, it had a market share of 5.8%. However, the competition gained ground.
Following its impressive run of results, the Wuling Mini sat second. It recorded 404,876 units and a 5.4% share of the BEV total between January and November. This meant its gap to first place sat at 24,924 units.
In third was the Tesla Model Y, with 359,463 sales in the 11-month period. This was good enough for a 4.8% market share.
Despite its struggles, the BYD Seagull held fourth place in the cumulative table, with 304,547 deliveries in China. The model took 4.1% of the BEV market. Following in fifth was the Xiaomi SU7, despite not having appeared in monthly charts since September. With 247,041 units taking to Chinese roads, it held 3.3% of the market.
Ups and downs
The BYD Yuan Up held sixth after 11 months of 2025. It recorded 199,048 deliveries, equating to a 2.7% hold of the BEV total.
Taking seventh was the Tesla Model 3, with 172,392 sales and a 2.3% market share between January and November. This was at the cost of the Xpeng M03, which has not made a monthly top 10 chart since August. The Chinese model achieved 163,082 sales in the first 11 months of 2025, equating to a 2.2% hold of the BEV total.
Ninth went to the Geely Panda Mini, which leapt one position despite not featuring in November’s top 10. However, 11th place in November was enough to secure a boost over the 10th-place Changan Lumin. The Geely model sold 157,735 units for a 2.1% market share between January and November. Meanwhile, the Lumin saw 153,907 deliveries, and a similar 2.1% share.
