When many brands were still relying on price cuts to drive sales, Geely Automobile (including the three brands Geely, Lynk & Co, Zeekr) instead relied on consecutive 3 months of Year-over-Year and Month-over-Month dual growth (237,000 vehicles in May), quietly walking out another path. Behind this is not luck, but more like a designed "Methodology to Resist Involution".

For any manufacturer, product is always first. The reason Geely can achieve today's results is because they almost avoided all the price war disaster zones. In the interval called "Blood Sea Market" of 100,000 to 150,000 RMB, Geely did not simply pile up features for price reductions, but used Galaxy M7, Star Shine 7, and Starship 7 to form a "Technical Combo Punch" — for example, the Star Shine 7 MAX series comes standard with four-wheel drive, turning configurations that usually cost extra in the same class into basic models, using "Value Equity" to replace "Price Involution", which allowed the new car to break 5,000 units in the first month of launch.

Going deeper, its growth quality is hidden in the structure. The new energy penetration rate is 56%, meaning for every two cars sold, one is a new energy vehicle. However, looking closely at the composition, in Zeekr's 34,000 deliveries, 9 Series, 8 Series, and other high-ticket models accounted for nearly 50%. The average price per vehicle rose 52% year-over-year. This "rising volume and price" is more persuasive than simple sales figures. This shows its new energy growth is not relying on low-price electric vehicles to boost volume, but truly standing firm in the high-end market. Zeekr 009 continuously winning the championship in the MPV market above 400,000 RMB is the proof.

More importantly, the technical layout balances both short and long terms. In the short term, it relies on i-HEV hybrid technology to extend the life of the China Star series, allowing fuel vehicle users to complete upgrades without changing usage habits, which allowed the China Star to break 100,000 units in a single month. In the long term, it bets on 900V high-voltage architecture (Lynk & Co 10 Series), Qianli Haohan Smart Solutions, positioning itself early in the 200,000 to 250,000 RMB market. Even the acquisition of Radar Automobile seems calculated — avoiding price involution in passenger cars, targeting the pickup truck segment where users have low price sensitivity and high scenario premium. Now Radar is not only the domestic sales champion but has also captured the Thailand market, becoming a surprise weapon for profit optimization.

Geely's sales numbers prove one thing: When everyone is fighting with bayonets in the existing market, the true growth potential may be hidden in the analysis of user needs — not that users only buy cheap ones, but that users do not want to pay for "unnecessary premiums".

Note at the beginning:

After entering June, major automotive manufacturers started releasing their sales performance records for the past May. From the strong New Force Leapmotor to the exceptional BYD, they have become another topic of discussion in the automotive industry. It is not difficult to see that in the domestic car market, the landscape of Chinese car brands has slowly evolved from the former "Five Tigers" to the "Top Three Powerhouses" stance. In my mind, these so-called top three are BYD, Geely, and Chery. Of course, the evolution of the "Five Tigers" is a process, and the "Top Three" is not set in stone.

Today, this content provides a stage sales review and sharp commentary on the top five automakers, primarily targeting BYD, Geely, Chery, Changan, and Great Wall. Let's see how these five automakers performed in the market during the past May. The next content will mainly review New Force brands. Without further ado, here we serve the goods to you!

BYD: May sales 383,453 vehicles, standing out distinctly leading the way

Let's first look at BYD's performance in May. In the past May, BYD could be described as standing out distinctly and leading the way consistently. May BYD sales exceeded 380,000 units, reaching 383,453 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 0.3% and a month-on-month increase of 19.3%. This is also the highest single-month sales for BYD since entering 2026. In the sales composition, the Ocean Network and Dynasty Network remain the absolute mainstays, with the cumulative sales of the two networks exceeding 330,000 units.

In addition, under the support of Titanium 7, Fang Cheng Bao also delivered a performance record of 30,186 vehicles. Denza and Fang Cheng Bao May sales were 16,303 vehicles and 286 vehicles respectively. In terms of the overseas market, BYD reached a new historical high in May, delivering 160,177 vehicles (passenger vehicles and pickups), a year-on-year increase of 80.7%.

From January to May this year, the BYD Group cumulative sales reached 1,405,039 vehicles, overseas market cumulative sales reached 614,470 vehicles, accounting for nearly 44%. It is worth mentioning that BYD New Energy cumulative sales have already exceeded 16.5 million vehicles, an undisputed global leader in New Energy.

Chery Automobile: May sales 247,823 vehicles, exports surge sharply, new energy climbs

Chery Automobile May sales were 247,823 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 20.5% with a slight month-on-month decline. Although Chery's various brands have not yet announced specific sales data, from the sales composition perspective, the parent brand Chery and Jetour remain the main sales force of the Chery Automobile Group.

From the May sales data perspective, two data points are worth noting. First, Chery May export volume reached a shocking 181,871 vehicles, a year-on-year surge of 80.5%, and has beaten the record for a single month of Chinese car exports for three consecutive months, becoming the indisputable sales support of the Chery Group. In addition, Chery New Energy vehicle sales reached 100,304 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 58.8%. Currently, Chery's New Energy composition consists of pure electric on one hand, and plug-in hybrid models developed vigorously on the other.

From January to May this year, Chery Automobile cumulative sales exceeded 1,100,921 vehicles, creating a new historical high for the same period. In addition, Chery Group global cumulative users have exceeded 19.62 million, of which overseas users exceed 6.59 million. Unsurprisingly, Chery will welcome an important milestone in July: cumulative users exceeding 20 million.

Geely Automobile: May sales 237,637 vehicles, ZEEKR surges, overseas explodes

Next, let's look at Geely Automobile's performance. In May, the Geely Automobile Group sales were 237,637 vehicles, achieving double-digit year-on-year and month-on-month growth for three consecutive months. Among the specific performance of each brand, the Geely brand remains the sales support of the group, May sales reached 182,528 vehicles, mainly due to the strong performance of Geely Galaxy, which delivered a record of 81,727 vehicles.

In addition, ZEEKR brand sales were 34,377 vehicles, Lynk & Co brand sales were 20,732 vehicles, the brand with the highest increase ZEEKR increased by 82%. Geely China Star Series performed stably, May sales 100,801 vehicles, year-on-year increase 16%, month-on-month increase 12.5%, still showing a double-digit year-on-year and month-on-month growth trend. Binyue, Boyue, Xingyue L, Xingrui, Emgrand, etc., all performed well.

In terms of New Energy, Geely Group cumulative sales reached 133,000 units, accounting for 56%, becoming its sales support. In terms of the overseas market, Geely was equally outstanding, delivering a performance of 85,000 units, a year-on-year surge of 184%, creating a new historical high, achieving double-digit year-on-year and month-on-month growth. In the first five months of this year, Geely Automobile cumulative sales exceeded 1.18 million, second only to BYD.

Changan Automobile: May sales 209,100 vehicles, New Energy steady, overseas situation excellent

In May, Changan Automobile continued its stable performance, delivering 209,100 vehicles, of which 70,700 vehicles were delivered overseas, a year-on-year surge of 38%. New Energy steady, May deliveries 92,400 vehicles, nearly completed sales support, also contributed the greatest force to Changan Automobile sales.

Looking at the brands separately, Changan Qiyuan May deliveries were 34,528 vehicles, among which the new Q05 performed outstandingly, single-month delivery of new vehicles 15,812 vehicles, only 3 days after launching in Thailand orders broke through the 3,000 units mark.

Deepal Automobile performance was equally excellent, May deliveries 33,243 vehicles, year-on-year increase 30%, among which Deepal S05 remains the brand sales support, single-month deliveries 18,866 vehicles, since listing, cumulative sales have already exceeded 220,000 units. From January to May, Deepal cumulative sales 130,531 vehicles, year-on-year increase 15%. Overseas market this year first five months Deepal deliveries 28,704 vehicles, year-on-year surge 167%.

Changan parent brand May deliveries 48,900 vehicles, with the launch and delivery of the fourth-generation Yiding Blue Whale Super Engine and the fourth-generation CS75 PLUS Blue Whale Super Engine dual vehicles, the starting price of 79,900 Yuan is also expected to further pull the sales of the Changan brand.

Changan Kaicheng May delivered new vehicles 21,100 units, New Energy deliveries year-on-year increased 21%, Avatr May sales 7,336 vehicles, Avatr 12 cannot be ignored, with the appearance of Avatr 07L, as the first batch of models equipped with Huawei Qiankun ADS 5, it is also expected to assist Avatr in the follow-up.

Great Wall Motor: May sales 100,399 vehicles, overseas increase significant

Great Wall Motor May market performance compared to other four, the performance record looks indeed thin. May delivered 100,399 vehicles, overseas market performance excellent, year-on-year surge 46.75%. From January to May this year, Great Wall sales new vehicles 475,815 vehicles, year-on-year slight increase 3.64%.

May Haval brand remains sales support, 55,478 vehicles performance let it occupy Great Wall Motor's half of the mountain. Haval SUV cumulative sales have reached 10.4445 million vehicles, still the best-selling SUV brand. With the listing of Haval Menglong PLUS, Haval Big Dog PLUS long-range version new vehicles successively, Haval sales is expected to welcome further breakthrough. For Haval brand, personally feel Haval H6 series currently a bit regretful, suggest Haval SUV can focus on Haval H6 this IP continue to exert force, create a model that can move volume, inherit classics while improving Haval SUV sales.

WEY May sales 8,119 vehicles, year-on-year increase 31.78%, WEY Gaoshan and Blue Mountain remain sales support. With the listing of the new model WEY V9X, WEY sales is expected to welcome further breakthrough, personally predict WEY next month sales breakthrough 10,000 units not a problem, but how to further breakthrough has become a difficulty placed in front of WEY CEO Zhao Yongpo.

Tank brand May sales 17,067 vehicles, historical cumulative sales 911,700 vehicles, this year break 1 million vehicle target not a problem. New Tank 700 listing continues hot sales, new Tank 400 also momentum just right, unfortunately previously popular Tank 300 series, continuously eaten away by other brands' new vehicle sales.

Great Wall Pickup May sales 13,628 vehicles, historical cumulative sales 2.9488 million vehicles, still China Pickup sales No. 1. With the arrival of Great Wall Cannon Hi4-T new vehicles, Great Wall Pickup sales also expected to further improve.

Great Wall ORA May sales 6,018 vehicles, year-on-year surge 206.88%. Currently ORA sales pillar still ORA Good Cat, with the listing of one-vehicle-multiple-power ORA 5, Great Wall ORA sales breakthrough 10,000 units not a problem.

Note at the end:

From the market performance of the above five Chinese automakers, BYD still leads continuously, Geely and Chery two automakers recent months sales not distinguish upper or lower, head to head, Changan then steady steps, in overseas market and New Energy market continue to exert force.

Compared to other four automakers, Great Wall market performance not good, but operation steady. Headman Wei Jianjun continuously appears, created powerful personal IP, also pulled brand influence. But the problem placed in front of Great Wall Motor is how to continuously follow up in the market, don't fall behind the first tier. Personally brand influence Great Wall no problem, product power and service also completely no problem, currently Great Wall needs to do is create blockbuster vehicles, how to improve automaker overall sales through new vehicles.

This article by [Car Market Special Review/Li Te'er] New Media Studio original production, author Beiyan, reproduction requires attribution.