Beyond the Numbers: What Q1/2025 Reveals About China’s Next EV Moves

China’s EV makers entered 2025 with sharpened strategies and stronger global ambitions. In the first quarter, they didn’t just post solid numbers - they set the tone for a year of reinvention. From BYD’s surging exports to Xpeng’s expanding model lineup and Nio’s growing multi-brand approach, the industry showed it's no longer just about scale - it's about agility.

At home, competition intensified as new models hit the market in quick succession. Leapmotor saw a breakthrough with its B-series, while Xiaomi continued to push volume despite factory constraints. Overseas, Zeekr and BYD pressed ahead with global rollouts, but early signals from Europe and the U.S. suggest geopolitical headwinds are only getting stronger.

Meanwhile, new brands and product updates debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show, signaling a shift toward more diversified portfolios - from hybrid flagships to ultra-affordable sedans and premium MPVs. Whether it’s vertical integration, software-first architectures, or cross-border joint ventures, China’s NEV players are moving fast - and recalibrating on the fly.

Let’s break it down.

Sebastian

How China’s Top EV Brands Are Rewriting the Playbook

In the first quarter of 2025, China's NEV landscape was defined by intensified competition, product refreshes, and an acceleration in overseas expansion. Several major brands posted significant year-over-year gains, reflecting a maturing domestic market and rising export ambitions.

BYD remained the clear leader, with 1,380,893 NEVs sold between January and April. While monthly growth in April was modest, the cumulative performance is notable. Of these, passenger NEVs accounted for 1,358,713 units. Pure electric sales (BEVs) reached 612,128 units, up 40.86 percent year-over-year, while PHEV sales hit 746,585 units, marking a 48.76 percent increase.

Commercial NEV sales, though smaller in volume at 22,180 units, rose more than sixfold compared to last year. Overseas demand continued to grow: BYD exported 285,170 NEVs in the first four months of 2025, a 105.29 percent increase over the same period in 2024.

Great Wall Motor crossed the 100,000 mark in April for the first time this year, with 28,813 NEVs making up nearly 29 percent of the monthly sales. This represents a 28.42 percent year-on-year rise in NEV volume. Cumulatively, GWM sold 356,868 vehicles in Q1, including 123,055 units abroad.

While overseas sales fell slightly compared to last year, domestic NEV growth suggests a focused pivot in product strategy. The company is looking to solidify its position in both plug-in hybrid and all-electric subsegments, even as it continues to rely on a large portfolio of combustion-powered models.

Leapmotor accelerated rapidly, buoyed by the launch of its new B-series, particularly the compact SUV B10. The company delivered 128,591 NEVs in Q1, reflecting a 165.6 percent year-on-year surge. In April alone, Leapmotor recorded 41,039 deliveries, just shy of its all-time record.

The B10 garnered 10,016 firm orders within an hour of its unveiling and passed the 10,000-production mark within 16 days. Leapmotor’s C-series remains the backbone of its sales, but the B-series has quickly taken off. The company aims to sell between 500,000 and 600,000 vehicles in 2025, building on the 293,724 delivered in 2024.

Li Auto posted steady gains with 126,803 vehicles delivered by the end of April, a 19.41 percent increase compared to Q1/2024. In April, deliveries dipped slightly to 33,939 units, a 7.46 percent decline from March, as the company began a product switchover.

The updated Li L6 and Li Mega were introduced at the Shanghai auto show in late April, with orders now being accepted. While the majority of Li Auto’s portfolio still consists of extended-range EVs (EREVs), the brand is pushing further into full electrification with the Li Mega BEV and its upcoming Li i8 SUV.

Nio showed strong recovery, delivering 65,994 units in the January–April window, a 44.49 percent increase year-over-year. April alone saw 23,900 units shipped, the second-highest monthly total in company history. The core Nio brand delivered 19,269 units in April, while Onvo - its family-focused sub-brand - added 4,400 units. Firefly, a new low-cost EV brand, contributed 231 units in its launch month.

Nio’s multi-brand strategy is beginning to scale, with the Onvo L90 and third-generation ES8 expected to follow in the coming months. CEO William Li reaffirmed that Nio aims to double deliveries in 2025, following 160,038 units sold last year.

Xiaomi EV continued its fast-paced launch phase, with over 28,000 SU7 electric sedans delivered in April alone. While slightly below March’s “over 29,000” figure, this still places Xiaomi among the top EV startups in terms of monthly output. Factory capacity remains the bottleneck, with customers currently facing delivery wait times of nearly 40 weeks.

Deliveries of the Pro version of the SU7 began in May, while the SUV variant, YU7, is scheduled for release in summer 2025. The brand’s aggressive pricing and tech-focused branding are resonating with early adopters despite supply constraints.

Xpeng continued its turnaround, delivering 129,053 vehicles in Q1/2025, up over 313 percent year-on-year. April deliveries reached 35,045 units, its second-best month ever. The Mona M03 and P7+ sedans have become key growth drivers, while updated versions of the G6 and G9 SUVs have helped sustain momentum. The Mona M03, priced to compete with Tesla’s Model 3, surpassed 100,000 cumulative deliveries within eight months.

Xpeng also introduced the X9 MPV in April and is preparing a new electric sedan to expand its lineup further. The company is clearly targeting volume growth across segments.

Zeekr Group, now including Lynk & Co, delivered a combined 155,327 vehicles from January through April, up 20.47 percent year-on-year. April contributed 41,316 units to this tally, with Lynk & Co’s 27,589 units accounting for two-thirds of the total. Zeekr’s own brand saw a dip in April, with 13,727 units sold, but remains strong year-to-date.

The group continues to target premium and hybrid segments: Zeekr unveiled its 007 GT shooting brake and 9X hybrid SUV at the Shanghai auto show, while Lynk & Co launched its flagship 900 hybrid SUV. Zeekr’s expansion plan includes new exports and deeper premium positioning.

_{All figures cited are based on official data published by the respective manufacturers.}

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