Gasgoo Munich- Sales of Chinese-brand passenger cars hit 1,592,706 units in April 2026, a 1.63% year-on-year increase, according to data from Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute. BYD led the pack with 270,899 units, followed by Chery in second. Galaxy, Geely, and MG trailed close behind. Leapmotor, Haval, Wuling (Silver Badge), Changan, and Jetour all secured spots in the top ten, illustrating a landscape where leaders are entrenched, tiers are diverging, and competition is fierce.
Based on data from Gasgoo Automotive Research Institute, here is the sales ranking for Chinese brands in April 2026:
No. 1 BYD: 270,899 units sold in April
No. 2 Chery: 158,363 units sold in April
No. 3 Galaxy: 91,001 units sold in April
No. 4 Geely: 88,495 units sold in April
No. 5 MG: 80,358 units sold in April
No. 6 Leapmotor: 71,387 units sold in April
No. 7 Haval: 60,330 units sold in April
No. 8 Wuling (Silver Badge): 47,080 units sold in April
No. 9 Changan: 46,039 units sold in April
No. 10 Jetour: 45,364 units sold in April
The April figures reveal a "one dominant, many strong" landscape among Chinese brands. BYD set a new record with 270,899 deliveries, cementing its hold on the top spot. Chery followed in second with 158,363 units, maintaining a steady market pace. The real drama unfolded further down: Galaxy surged to third place with 91,001 units, just ahead of Geely’s 88,495. With a gap of fewer than 3,000 units between them, the race is tight. This shuffling in the upper echelons highlights shifting growth dynamics in the new energy sector.
Meanwhile, MG, Leapmotor, and Haval occupied the fifth through seventh spots, with sales clustered between 60,000 and 81,000 units. Leapmotor stood out, climbing to sixth with 71,387 units—a testament to its explosive growth in the intelligent EV segment. Wuling (Silver Badge), Changan, and Jetour rounded out the list in eighth through tenth, respectively, with volumes ranging from 45,000 to 48,000 units. Competition in this lower tier is heating up.
Structurally, brands like BYD, Galaxy, and Leapmotor are leaning on pure electric, plug-in hybrid, and extended-range vehicles as their primary growth engines. New energy models are accounting for a larger share of total sales, driving significant month-over-month gains. In contrast, traditional players like Chery, Geely, Haval, and Wuling (Silver Badge) are sticking to a dual-track strategy: stabilizing their internal combustion engine business while expanding their EV footprint. They are seeking a balance between legacy fuel markets and the new energy race, relying on broad product portfolios to maintain scale. Yet, the pace of the EV transition has caused sales and ranking volatility for some. The drop in rankings for Changan and Jetour underscores the short-term pressures legacy automakers face during this shift. MG, however, has bucked the trend by maintaining steady sales, fueled by its continued push into overseas markets.
Overall, the competitive landscape for Chinese brands continued to mature in April 2026, with market vitality recovering further. Top-tier brands maintained their lead through technological and product advantages, while frequent reshuffling occurred in the second tier. The battle between legacy automakers and new players is intensifying across every segment. As the industry accelerates toward high-quality development, innovation, product iteration, and brand upgrades are becoming the key drivers for Chinese brands moving upmarket. Ultimately, the competitiveness of new energy vehicles is proving decisive in determining who rises and who falls.
