Tesla under threat as Geely Geome Xingyuan continues its ascent
15 September 2025
One battery-electric vehicle (BEV) stood out in July’s global sales figures. But what does the ascent of the Geely Geome Xingyuan mean for the market? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the latest electric vehicle (EV) data from EV Volumes.
With 1,090,120 BEV sales in July, the global all-electric car market accelerated by 34.7% year on year. This contrasted the performance of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which saw deliveries grow at a slower rate of 13.5%. This was the lowest global volume improvement since June 2020.
This meant the global PHEV market increased by 30% year on year across the first seven months of 2025. In total, 410,4971 newly sold cars were equipped with the plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Meanwhile, BEVs outpaced the technology in both volume and growth, up by 34.6% to 7,152,170 units. Therefore, between January and July, BEVs made up 65.3% of all EV sales, up from 62.7% a year earlier.
Geely Geome Xingyuan gains ground
The best-selling BEV globally in July was the Tesla Model Y. It saw 82,560 deliveries, up 3.5% compared with the same period in 2024. However, its market share dropped for the 17th consecutive month in a row, down 2.3 percentage points (pp) to 7.6%.
In second, the Geely Geome Xingyuan has seen its share climb since sales were first recorded in September 2024. The model represented 4.1% of all BEV volumes in July, its highest percentage since arriving on the market. With 44,286 deliveries, it was 12,688 units ahead of third place.
This position was held by the Tesla Model 3, which saw deliveries drop by 7.1% year on year to 31,598 units. This meant its market share fell by 1.3pp compared with 12 months ago, when it made up 4.2% BEV volumes.
Increasing competition bites
Chinese BEVs dominated the remainder of the top 10. The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Surf in select markets, finished fourth in July. It recorded 29,166 sales, down 21.2%, while claiming 2.7% of the market, a drop of 1.9pp.
In fifth came the Wuling Mini on the back of a 70.1% volume increase, reaching 26,816 units. This gave it a 2.5% market share, up by 0.5pp. The Xiaomi SU7 saw sales rise by an even greater 86%, with 24,434 deliveries recorded. This saw its grip on the market increase by 0.6pp to 2.2%.
The BYD Yuan Plus, also known as the Atto 3, came seventh, as sales fell by 39.8% to 19,057 units. Its market share dropped accordingly by 2.2pp to 1.7%. In eighth, the BYD Dolphin saw deliveries grow by 3.7% to 18,848 sales, meaning a 0.5pp share drop to 1.4%.
With its first sales recorded in August 2024, the Xpeng M03 ended up ninth in July. It claimed 1.4% of the market with 15,704 deliveries. Following it in 10th was the BYD Yuan Up, also known as the Atto 2 in some markets. It saw sales increase by 24.6% to 14,152 units. However, intensified competition saw its grasp on the market weaken by 0.1pp to 1.3%.
Geely Geome Xingyuan threatens Tesla Model 3
Across the first seven months of 2025, the Tesla Model Y still looked to be far out ahead. It took a 7.7% market share with 551,104 sales. With less than half the volume and market hold, the Tesla Model 3 recorded 259,584 deliveries and a 3.6% share.
Only 0.1pp behind Tesla’s sedan, the Geely Geome Xingyuan came third with a 3.5% hold of the market. So far this year, its deliveries reached 249,377.
This was 10,207 units behind the second-place Tesla. Between January and June, this gap stood at 22,119 units, demonstrating the speed of its ascent. Having outsold its rival by 12,688 units in July, the Xingyuan poses a considerable threat to Tesla.
With 229,893 sales, the BYD Seagull finished fourth with 3.2% of the market. In fifth, 197,477 new Wuling Mini models took to the roads. It represented 2.8% of global BEV sales, with the majority of these taking place in China. The Xiaomi SU7 finished sixth, taking a 2.5% share with 180,255 sales.
The BYD Yuan Plus was seventh with a 2% share and 145,382 deliveries. Its sibling, the BYD Yuan Up, came next with a 1.7% hold and 121,136 sales. The brand’s fourth BEV in the top 10 was the BYD Dolphin, capturing 1.6% of the market with 116,665 sales. In 10th, the Wuling Bingo was 0.1pp behind with 1.5% share and 107,097 deliveries.
PHEVs scramble
July saw the BYD Song Plus, also known as the Seal U, record a 4.7% decline in sales as 27,469 units hit roads worldwide. However, the model did account for a market-leading 4.3% of PHEV sales globally, down 0.8pp.
With a 13.9% increase in deliveries, 25,307 BYD Seal 6 models were sold in July. The PHEV took a 4% market share, the same percentage as 12 months ago. The Aito M8 finished third, recording 21,564 units and a 3.4% hold on the market.
In fourth, the BYD Qin Plus saw 21,041 sales, down by 29.3% year on year. Its market share fell accordingly to 3.3% from 5.3% a year earlier. The BYD Destroyer 5, also known as the Seal 5, was fifth. It recorded a less severe drop of 9.4% to 17,837 sales, equating to a 0.7pp fall in market share to 2.8%.
Deliveries of the BYD Song Pro fell by 28.6% to 15,727 units. Its grip on the market weakened from 3.9% in July 2024 to 2.5% 12 months later. The Li Auto L6 recorded 14,905 deliveries, down 40%, as its market share decreased by 2.1pp to 2.4%.
In contrast, the Buick GL8 enjoyed a 210.8% hike in sales to 12,437 in July. The model first recorded deliveries in June 2024, and just over a year later, claimed 2% of the global PHEV market, up 1.2pp.
The BYD Song L claimed ninth, as its sales increased by 18.5% to 12,049 units. It took a 1.9% market share, up 0.1pp. Its sibling, the BYD Qin L, came 10th as its volume slid by 63% to 12,000 units. This saw its market share drop by 3.9pp to 1.9%.
BYD takes PHEV table
Accounting for seven of the top 10 best-selling PHEVs between January and July, BYD largely pushed the powertrain forward. The BYD Song Plus took first place with a 5.3% share and 216,351 deliveries.
The BYD Song Pro was second with a 3.5% share and 143,184 sales. Just 0.2pp divided it from the BYD Qin Plus in second with a 3.3% share, and 135,730 deliveries. Then another 0.2pp saw the BYD Seal 6 come fourth with a 3.1% share and 128,352 deliveries.
The Li Auto L6 was the first non-BYD model to make the top 10 between January and July. It took a 2.7% market share with 111,324 deliveries. However, the BYD Qin L was close behind with a 2.6% share and 106,600 deliveries.
The BYD Destroyer 05 came seventh with a 2.2% share and 90,553 deliveries. Just 1,715 units behind was the BYD Song L, accounting for 2.2% as well. Then came the Galaxy Starship 7 with 1.9% and 79,857. In 10th, the Aito M9 hit a 1.6% market share with 67,298 deliveries.
