Top 10 best-selling cars in China in August: BEV takes nine and half spots, gas cars disappear
Battery electric vehicles occupied nine of the ten highest positions in China’s passenger-car sales ranking in August. The only exception was BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao Ti7, which, unlike the other 9 models, offers both BEV and PHEV variants. 55% of Ti7 sales were BEV.
No gasoline-powered model entered the top 10: the first ICE car is the Toyota Corolla in 13th position, with 14,675 units sold. This is the second month this year that ICE vehicles have been excluded from the top 10 best-selling models in China.
The Geely EX2 led the overall market with 39,651 vehicles sold. EX2 (also known as Xingyuan) is a small hatchback, Geely’s answer to the BYD Seagull (Dolphin Surf) in China and the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo in Europe.
Geely EX2 also leads the 2026 year-to-date (January – August) ranking as the best-selling Chinese EV, with 266,166 units sold, followed by the Tesla Model Y with 226,931 units and the Li Auto i6 with 152,845 units.
| # | Model | Price range (yuan) | Price range (USD) | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geely EX2 | 64,800–94,800 | 9,662–14,135 | 39,651 |
| 2 | Leapmotor A10 | 65,800–86,800 | 9,811–12,944 | 30,652 |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 263,500–313,500 | 39,288–46,743 | 29,260 |
| 4 | Fang Cheng Bao Ti 7 ** | 179,800–239,800 | 26,808–35,754 | 23,471 |
| 5 | BYD Atto 2 | 74,800–119,800 | 11,153–17,862 | 22,958 |
| 6 | Tesla Model 3 | 235,500–339,500 | 35,113–50,619 | 20,787 |
| 7 | Changan Nevo Q05 | 79,900–114,900 | 11,913–17,130 | 17,349 |
| 8 | Li Auto i6 | 249,800–269,800 | 37,245–40,227 | 16,979 |
| 9 | BYD Dolphin | 99,800–125,800 | 14,880–18,757 | 16,829 |
| 10 | Xiaomi SU7 | 219,900–303,900 | 32,787–45,311 | 16,518 |
| 11 | BYD Song Ultra | 129,900–179,900 | 19,368–26,823 | 15,903 |
| 12 | Wuling Bingo Pro | 56,800–70,800 | 8,469–10,556 | 14,695 |
| 13 | Toyota Corolla Cross* | 126,800–159,800 | 18,906–23,826 | 14,675 |
| 14 | Geely Starray* | 99,900–129,900 | 14,895–19,368 | 14,302 |
| 15 | Volkswagen Lavida* | 79,900–145,900 | 11,913–21,751 | 14,226 |
| 16 | Toyota RAV4* | 169,800–228,800 | 25,317–34,114 | 14,062 |
| 17 | BYD Song Pro | 102,800–133,800 | 15,327–19,950 | 13,954 |
| 18 | BYD Sealion 6 | 129,900–199,800 | 19,368–29,790 | 13,887 |
| 19 | Xiaomi YU7 | 233,500–389,900 | 34,815–58,134 | 13,635 |
| 20 | Geely Monjaro* | 139,700–179,700 | 20,829–26,793 | 13,287 |
- ICE vehicle **Ti7 offers two powertrain options: BEV and PHEV. BEV sold 12,864 units, while PHEV sold 10,607 units
The Leapmotor A10 ranked second with 30,652 units in August, followed by the Tesla Model Y with 29,260 units.
Tesla was the only automaker with two models in the top ten. The Model Y SUV placed third, while the Model 3 sedan ranked sixth with 20,787 vehicles sold. Interestingly, the Xiaomi SU7 sedan fell from 4th position in July to 10th, and the Xiaomi YU7 SUV fell to 19th with 13,635 sales. This is despite the fact they SUVs are way more popular in China, outselling sedans by about 1:2
Five ICE-based models entered the top 20. These were the Toyota Corolla Cross, Geely Starray, Volkswagen Lavida, Toyota RAV4, and Geely Monjaro. The Lavida was the only sedan among them.
For Volkswagen Lavida and Nissan Sylphy, it is especially painful – once consistent 20,000+ sellers in the top 5, now barely hanging on the top 25, with Sylphy falling to 23rd position with only 12,227 units.
BYD placed four models in the top 20: the Atto 2, Song Ultra, Song Pro, and Sealion 6. Including the Fang Cheng Bao Ti 7 increased the automaker’s total representation to five models.