China’s automotive market reached a historic milestone in May 2026 as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles disappeared entirely from the country’s top 10 best-selling passenger car models for the first time.
The ranking was composed exclusively of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), a category that in China includes battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).
The development underscores the rapid pace of electrification in the world’s largest automotive market, where electric and electrified vehicles have steadily increased their share of sales over recent years.
Top Five Positions Claimed by Pure EVs
Not only did NEVs occupy all positions in the top 10 ranking, but the five best-selling passenger vehicles in May were all fully electric models.
The top-selling model was the Geely Xingyuan, which recorded sales of 38,751 units during the month.
The complete top 10 ranking for May was:
- Geely Xingyuan – 38,751 units
- Tesla Model Y – 28,911 units
- Xiaomi SU7 – 24,023 units
- Leapmotor A10 – 22,306 units
- Li Auto i6 – 20,878 units
- BYD Sealion 06 – 18,856 units
- Tesla Model 3 – 18,370 units
- Wuling Hongguang Mini EV – 18,308 units
- Aito M6 – 18,148 units
- Fang Cheng Bao Ti7 – 17,510 units
The ranking reflects the growing dominance of Chinese EV manufacturers while also highlighting the continued strength of Tesla in the domestic market.
End of the Last Combustion Model
The disappearance of combustion-powered vehicles from the ranking was widely anticipated as NEV adoption accelerated throughout 2025 and 2026.
In recent months, the number of traditional gasoline-powered models in the top 10 had steadily declined. The final remaining ICE model, the Geely Binyue SUV, still appeared in April’s ranking but dropped out in May.
Its exit marks the first month in which China’s most popular passenger vehicle list has been entirely electrified.
NEVs Continue to Gain Market Share
The milestone follows a broader shift in China’s automotive market.
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), New Energy Vehicles accounted for more than 50% of passenger vehicle sales during the fourth quarter of 2025, marking the first time electrified vehicles surpassed conventional models on a sustained basis.
CAAM data showed that NEVs represented 53.2% of wholesale passenger vehicle sales in April 2026. Wholesale figures include vehicles produced in China for both domestic consumption and export markets.
While May wholesale figures have not yet been released by CAAM, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported that NEVs captured 62.9% of retail passenger vehicle sales during the month.
The CPCA data reflects sales to end consumers within China and therefore differs from CAAM’s broader wholesale measurements.
China Strengthens Its Position as EV Leader
China has emerged as the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, supported by extensive domestic manufacturing capacity, competitive pricing, advanced battery supply chains and growing consumer acceptance.
The latest sales ranking highlights how rapidly consumer preferences are shifting away from conventional combustion-powered vehicles toward electric and electrified alternatives.
With NEVs now accounting for the majority of new vehicle sales and dominating the country’s best-selling model rankings, China continues to set the pace for the global transition toward electric mobility.
