So-called new-energy vehicles represented a record 62.9 percent of new-vehicle retail sales across China in May 2026, with electric models claiming the first seven positions on the monthly sales charts.

Electric vehicles secured eight of the top 10 places overall, while the remaining two spots went to plug-in hybrid and extended-range models. Every vehicle in the top 10 therefore qualified as a new-energy vehicle.

Figures released by the China Passenger Car Association show the Geely Xingyuan electric hatchback, scheduled to reach Australia later this year, finished as the single best-selling model in the country.

It finished ahead of the Tesla Model Y and Xiaomi SU7 in second and third place. No purely petrol-powered vehicles appeared anywhere in the top 10.

The Model Y also led all vehicle categories in Australia during May, displacing the Ford Ranger to become the first electric model to top the national sales charts.

The result formed part of a broader surge that lifted EV market share in Australia to a record 19.9 percent, exceeding the previous high of 16.4 percent set the month before.

Review of the association data reveals electric vehicles accounted for roughly 42 percent of the 1.51 million new-vehicle retail sales recorded in China during May 2026. Internal-combustion models fell to 37.1 percent of the market, down from 47 percent in May 2025.

New-energy vehicle sales declined 7.5 percent year-over-year while the overall market dropped 22.1 percent, reflecting a 24 percent fall in plug-in hybrid deliveries and a 28 percent drop in extended-range sales. Pure electric retail sales, however, rose 3.9 percent amid higher fuel prices tied to tensions between the United States and Iran that also lifted petrol and diesel costs in Australia.

The milestone occurred even though China scaled back trade-in subsidies for 2026, trimming support for lower-priced electric models while introducing a slower incentive rollout across the wider market.

Chery shipped 181,871 vehicles overseas last month, representing nearly three-quarters of its total production across all brands including Omoda Jaecoo models sold in Australia.

BYD posted its own export record with 160,644 vehicles dispatched in May, including nearly 5000 units featuring the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute that arrived in Australia aboard the BYD Zhengzhou vessel as the brand tripled prior volumes.

The company placed second on the Australian sales charts in both April and May, trailing only Toyota whose year-to-date sales have fallen more than 30 percent.

More than one in three new vehicles sold in Australia during May originated from Chinese factories, including the leading Model Y, while Chinese brands occupied four of the ten highest-selling marques.