In May 2026, sales of passenger vehicles under Chinese independent brands reached 1,684,951 units, up 4.09% year-over-year. The top ten brands by sales that month were: BYD (326,798 units), Chery (154,041 units), Geely (96,966 units), Galaxy (81,728 units), Leapmotor (81,569 units), MG (76,268 units), Wuling (Silver Label) (59,711 units), Haval (55,478 units), Jetour (45,557 units), and Zeekr (34,377 units). BYD maintained its leading position, Chery held steady at second place, Geely rose to third, and Galaxy followed closely behind. Leapmotor ranked fifth, just 159 units behind Galaxy. Wuling (Silver Label), Haval, Jetour, and Zeekr occupied positions seven through ten, respectively, with Zeekr—a premium new energy brand—making its debut in the top ten. The rankings reveal that brands such as BYD, Galaxy, Leapmotor, and Zeekr primarily derive their sales from new energy vehicles (NEVs), while Chery and Geely pursue a dual strategy combining both internal combustion engine (ICE) and NEV models. Overall, the market shows a stable leadership tier, frequent shifts among the second-tier players, and a reshaped competitive landscape driven by new energy vehicles.