Xiaomi YU7 Tops New Energy SUV Sales; BYD Remains China's Top Automaker

In January 2026, China's new energy passenger vehicle market experienced an overall decline, with total sales reaching 563,000 units—a 58% month-on-month drop—and the new energy vehicle (NEV) penetration rate falling to 36.3%. Despite the market-wide slowdown, Xiaomi stood out: its SUV model YU7 surged to the top of the NEV SUV rankings with sales of 37,900 units, propelling Xiaomi to second place among automakers with total sales of 39,100 units, trailing only BYD (77,200 units). In the sedan segment, Geely Galaxy Starship led the pack with 14,900 units sold, followed by the BYD Qin Plus DM-i and the MG4 EV in second and third places, respectively. The NIO ES8 and Fangchengbao Titan 7 closely followed the Xiaomi YU7, securing the second and third spots in SUV sales.