Sensational finish to China’s EV markets in the first quarter
27 May 2025
Rising competition reshaped China’s battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market in the first quarter, with new leaders emerging. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) segment also saw fierce rivalries. Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry breaks down the top-performing models.
China’s BEV market surged in the first quarter of 2025, according to data provided by EV Volumes. Between January and March, the country’s market saw 1.54 million registrations, an increase of 47.9% compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the PHEV market also performed strongly. The technology recorded nearly 1.1 million deliveries representing a 37.2% improvement.
In March alone, the BEV market improved by 53.8%, with 662,403 new models taking to China’s roads. A total of 403,077 PHEVs also left showrooms in the month, a rise of 30.8%.
Both powertrains have seen new models start to compete with more established contenders this year. This increased competition has led to some interesting performances. The BEV market is being dominated by a brand other than Tesla or BYD. Meanwhile, the PHEV sector is seeing Chinese carmakers fight domestic battles.
China’s BEV market close at the top
The Geely Geome Xingyuan held first place in the BEV quarterly model table, with a total of 89,215 units. The model topped the standings in the first two months of the year, however, it a was close competition.
Just 48 units behind in second was the Wuling Mini, which also had a strong start to 2025. The model benefitted from a stronger March than its rival, closing the gap. It was just under 10,000 units behind at the end of February. These Geely and Wuling models ended the quarter holding a 5.8% share of the market.
Jumping up two places to end the first quarter in third was the Tesla Model Y. The US marque had a slow start to 2025, including a 13th-place finish in February’s monthly table. However, its traditional end-of-quarter surge helped its figures in March.
It recorded 81,889 deliveries and a 5.3% market share in the first quarter. The BEV has some catching up to do if it wants to retain its 2024 title this year.
The BYD Seagull secured fourth with 79,094 units sold in the first quarter of 2025, capturing a 5.1% market share. The city car could benefit from the brand’s most recent price cuts. Its list price was dropped to ¥55,800 (€6,835) in May, as reported by the Financial Times.
In fifth, swapping positions with the Tesla Model Y, was the Xiaomi SU7. Having dropped from third place, it ended the quarter with a 4.9% share of the BEV market, equating to 75,869 units.
BYD on the Up
The BYD Yuan Up was the second offering from the carmaker in the year-to-date table, taking sixth. It held a 3.7% share of China’s BEV market, thanks to 56,152 sales. This was the first time the model made the table in 2025. It was helped by a strong performance in March, which almost doubled its unit total for the year.
Following in seventh place was the Tesla Model 3. It moved up one spot from the previous month, with March’s figures helping after a slow start to the year. It remains to be seen whether the marque can keep this momentum up. It reached 52,718 sales from January to March, giving the sedan a 3.4% market hold.
The Xpeng M03 took eighth place at the end of the first quarter, a drop of two positions from the prior month. Despite a strong volume performance in March, it was not enough to overcome its rivals. The M03 ended the quarter with 47,130 units delivered, taking a 3.1% share.
In ninth was the Geely Panda Mini, which also dropped two places compared to February. It posted 42,792 registrations in the first quarter, equating to a 2.8% market share. The model did not place in the monthly top 10 during March, hampering its progress.
In 10th was the BYD Yuan Plus, with 40,754 sales, and a 2.6% market share. Prior to March, the Chinese carmaker only had its Seagull model feature in the top 10. However, by the end of the first quarter, the brand had three models placed in China’s BEV best-sellers table.
Tesla leads China
Thanks to its usual end-of-quarter delivery peak, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling BEV in China during March. It took the top spot for the first time in 2025, bouncing back after a poor February.
However, it was not smooth sailing for the US model. Its 48,189-unit total was up by just 0.6% year on year. Meanwhile, its 7.3% market share dropped 3.8 percentage points (pp) due to increased competition.
The Wuling Mini maintained its strong start to 2025, taking second place, thanks to 42,178 sales. This was a 162.9% increase year on year, and its best result since June 2022. The performance helped it to a 6.4% share of the monthly BEV total, an improvement of 2.7pp.
Third place went to the BYD Seagull, with 33,965 registrations. This was up 35.2% compared to March 2024. It held 5.1% of the market, a drop of 0.7pp.
After topping the table in January and February, the Geely Geome Xingyuan could only manage fourth in March. This was despite its best-ever performance of 32,481 sales in its seventh month on the market. The model took a 4.9% share of BEV deliveries as a result.
Fifth went to the Xiaomi SU7, with another record result. A total of 29,244 units were delivered in the model’s 12th month on sale, giving it a market share of 4.4%.
Record BEV results
The sixth-most-popular BEV in China during March was the Tesla Model 3, with 25,938 deliveries. This year a year-on-year improvement of 79.1%, while its market share of 3.9% was up 0.5pp.
Seventh went the BYD Yuan Up, with 25,036 units. This was the model’s best-ever monthly volume, after starting deliveries in March 2024. Its 3.8% share of the BEV market in the month marked a rise of 3.4pp.
The Wuling Bingo took eighth place in March, with 16,857 sales, its best total of the first quarter. This represented a 48.9% year-on-year rise. However, its share dipped by 0.1pp to 2.5%.
Just 264 units behind in ninth was the Xpeng M03. While it secured its best-ever volume in its eighth month on the market, this was not enough to help it overcome its rivals. With 16,593 deliveries, the model took a 2.5% market share.
Rounding up the top 10 was the BYD Yuan Plus, with 15,815 sales. This was a drop of 28% compared to March 2024. Meanwhile, its 2.4% hold of the BEV total was down by 2.7pp.
BYD domination continues
In the first quarter, BYD continued its domination of China’s PHEV market. Eight of the Chinese manufacturer’s models placed in the top 10 after three months of the year.
Leading the pack was the BYD Song Plus, with 58,300 units sold. This equated to a 5.3% market share. It was followed by the BYD Qin L, with 53,931 registrations. The model took a 4.9% hold of the PHEV total in the first three months of 2025.
Third went to the BYD Song Pro, with 51,542 deliveries. A strong March was enough to overcome the narrow gap between it and the BYD Qin Plus at the end of February. The Song Pro held a 4.7% share of the market.
Meanwhile, the Qin Plus saw 49,778 registrations in the first quarter. This resulted in a 4.6% market share, helping it maintain fourth place.
Dropping down
There was a close battle for fifth. The Li Auto L6 secured it at the end of the first quarter by just 116 units. The model gained one position compared to February, with 44,347 registrations and a 4.1% market share.
Just behind followed the BYD Seal 06, which also moved up one place. It ended the period with 44,231 sales, and a 4.1% hold of the PHEV total in the first quarter.
Dropping two places to seventh was the Galaxy Starship 7. Despite leading the market in January, the model was unable to maintain momentum, especially since BYD got into its stride. In the first three months of the year, it saw 42,286 sales, giving it a 3.9% market share.
In eighth was the BYD Song L, with 32,005 registrations and 2.9% of the PHEV total. Just 125 units behind was the BYD Han, which jumped one place to ninth. It secured 31,880 units and a 2.9% market share from January to March.
Finally, falling one place to 10th was the BYD Destroyer 05, with 28,197 deliveries. Its position was thanks to its performance in February. It did not appear in the monthly top 10 at any other time in the quarter.
PHEV competition increases
BYD dominated the PHEV sector in March. Yet, its more established models all suffered, as newer entrants continued to assert their presence.
The best-seller table was led by the BYD Song Plus, with 22,000 registrations. However, this was an 8.1% decline compared to the same period last year. Although popular, the model is seeing increased internal competition. This is indicated by its falling share, going from a 7.8% market hold last year to 5.5%.
Just 329 units back in second was the BYD Qin L. In its 11th month on sale, it delivered 21,671 units. This was its best result of the quarter and provided the model with a 5.4% market share.
Third position went to the BYD Song Pro, with 20,847 units. This was a year-on-year decline of 24%. It also suffered a 3.7pp market share drop to 5.2%.
In fourth was the BYD Qin Plus, with 18,897 registrations. This was also a decline, down 43.7% compared to March 2024. Having led the market with a 10.9% hold a year ago, March 2025 saw this share cut to just 4.7%.
The first non-BYD model found itself in fifth position. The Li Auto L6 saw 17,197 deliveries in the month, its 12th on sale. This left it with a 4.3% hold of China’s PHEV market in March.
Catching up
The BYD Seal 06 hit 17,126 sales in the month, ending in sixth in the PHEV top 10. Having been on sale for 11 months, the model ended March with a 4.2% market share.
In seventh was the BYD Han with 12,524 deliveries, a 22.2% decline year on year. It secured 3.1% of the market, a drop of 2.1pp.
After leading the market in January, the Galaxy Starship 7 fell to eighth in March, as rivals caught up. It recorded 11,888 deliveries in its fifth month of sales. It ended the month with a 2.9% market share.
Just 76 units behind was the BYD Song L, with 11,812 sales in its ninth month on the market. Being so close meant the model also took a 2.9% market share.
Rounding out the PHEV top 10 was the Denza D9. Its 9,000-unit total was 6.6% down compared to its performance last year. This meant that the Denza’s 2.2% market share was down by 0.9pp.
