Chinese EV Makers Hit Record Deliveries in May

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in China recovered on solid footing in May, as new models fitted with higher-performance batteries and more advanced driver assistance systems drew consumers amid intensified competition.

Zeekr, a premium EV brand owned by Geely Auto, the country’s second-largest carmaker, and Stellantis-backed Leapmotor rewrote their monthly delivery records, the latest sign that local government subsidies have whetted consumers’ buying appetite for big-ticket items.

Although top performers last month have shored up EV makers’ confidence in the market, “not all players can benefit from the government incentives because overcapacity remains a big concern”, said Steve Shi, a manager with Juchen Auto Trade, an auto service firm.

Zeekr delivered 34,377 units to customers in May, up 8.2 per cent from the previous record set in April. The deliveries represented an 81.8 per cent jump from the same period in 2025.

The brand recently launched new models such as a refreshed 009 multipurpose vehicle and a limited edition 001 sedan to lure customers away from rivals like Tesla. Leapmotor reported sales of 81,569 EVs last month, 14.3 per cent higher than its previous record of 71,387 units in April, and 81 per cent higher year on year.Nio hit its monthly high this year with 37,705 deliveries in May, up 28.4 per cent from April, and up 62.3 per cent year on year.

Xpeng sold 32,158 units in May, up 3.7 per cent from April but 4.1 per cent lower than in the same period last year.

Li Auto delivered 33,350 vehicles in May, down 2.2 per cent from the previous month and down 18.4 per cent from a year earlier.

Chinese EV makers accelerated new model launches during the recent Auto China show in Beijing. The world’s largest marque event saw 1,451 models on display, ­including 181 making their global debut.

Most of the new models were EVs developed by Chinese carmakers, with many featuring preliminary self-driving technologies, high-performance batteries and digital cockpits.

Mainland Chinese consumers’ willingness to embrace new technologies, along with cash subsidies from local governments, has given the country’s EV sector a much-needed boost since March, following a woeful start to the year.