China NEV SUV ranking movements in October revealed one of the most dramatic shifts the market has seen this year. Xiaomi’s YU7 overtook Tesla’s Model Y with strong demand and long delivery queues that reflect the momentum behind the brand’s rapid rise. With 33,662 units sold, the YU7 delivered a significant month-on-month increase and secured the number one position. Meanwhile, ONVO’s new L90 successfully entered the Top 10 for the first time, underscoring increasing diversity in the large electric SUV segment.
BYD continued to hold a dominant presence through multiple nameplates. The Sealion 06 retained its second position with 26,011 units sold, balancing strong EV sales with steady PHEV performance. Its rapid climb to 100,000 cumulative units in just 100 days reflects the impact of BYD’s product scale and pricing strategy. The Fangchengbao Tai 7 generated equally strong interest in its first full delivery month. It reached 20,024 units, landing in third place and emerging as one of BYD’s most successful new SUV launches this year.
The Yuan UP from BYD ranked fourth with 19,813 units after an expected correction from its September surge. Despite the decline, it remains the strongest performer in the entry-priced NEV SUV segment. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Model Y faced a sharp month-on-month drop to 19,488 units and slipped to fifth place. Seasonal factory adjustments and renewed competition contributed to its shift in position, even though Tesla maintains long-range advantage with newer variants.
AITO models continued to show mixed but still strong performance. The AITO M8 delivered 17,484 units, maintaining leadership in the high-end luxury segment priced above RMB 400,000. The newly updated AITO M7 climbed back into the Top 10 with 16,071 units. It posted one of the month’s strongest growth rates as it moved to eighth place. HIMA’s production expansion plans and customer care programs are expected to support continued delivery growth.
Leapmotor’s C10 delivered one of the best mid-size SUV results in October with 16,841 units, taking seventh place. Strong incentives and improved product quality helped sustain growth. Globally, the C10 broke its previous sales record with more than 20,000 units delivered in a single month. This further anchored Leapmotor as a rising competitor in both domestic and export markets.
Geely’s Galaxy E5 continued its upward trend. It recorded 13,422 units in October and ranked ninth, replacing BYD’s Yuan PLUS from the previous month. Upgraded range options and interior improvements helped maintain its appeal. However, competition is expected to intensify once the refreshed Yuan PLUS officially reaches the market in the coming months.
The final entry in the Top 10 was the ONVO L90, which reached 11,722 units. It became the brand’s first model to break into China’s NEV SUV ranking and is one of the few large SUVs offering battery-swap capability alongside a spacious design. With cumulative deliveries reaching 33,348 units since launch, the model is now central to NIO’s quarterly performance strategy. The company aims to push combined deliveries across nameplates toward its ambitious targets for sustained profitability.
Across the entire October ranking, the data highlights how quickly new energy SUVs are reshaping competitive dynamics in China’s automotive market. As more brands introduce upgraded models and expand production capacity, demand continues to rise at both mainstream and premium price levels. The next few months will be influenced by the year-end sales cycle and upcoming policy changes that are expected to encourage earlier purchases. This ensures continued momentum for China’s NEV SUV segment as it moves toward the close of the year.
