Parallel Drive

As we step into the new year, I keep coming back to one simple question: which Chinese NEV brands are still holding real cards on the table? The infographic highlighting the top 12 domestic players offers a telling snapshot of where the market stands today 📊🇨🇳.

At the top, BYD continues to dominate — leading sales in China and globally in EVs 🚀. Close behind, SAIC Motor, GEELY, and CHERY form a tightly packed second tier, competing fiercely on scale, platforms, and product breadth. GWM follows with steady, disciplined growth 📈.

Momentum tells another story. Leapmotor and HIMA recorded the strongest year-on-year growth, while XPENG and Xiaomi Technology delivered ultra-fast sales acceleration ⚡. LiAuto stands out as the only brand with a YoY decline, and NIO sits at a critical turning point, getting very close to profitability ⚖️.

Looking ahead into 2026, my assumption is that China’s NEV market will continue to be shaped mainly by these domestic brands — not JVs — especially when it comes to new products, innovation speed, and ecosystem influence. The noise is loud, but the power structure feels increasingly clear.

So the real question is: By the end of 2026, who will still be sitting at the table — and who might quietly lose their seat?

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