October 2026 Chinese EV Deliveries: Xiaomi and XPeng Topple Incumbents as Market Diverges

The October 2026 delivery figures from China's electric vehicle sector reveal a market in sharp transition, with challenger brands gaining ground while established players face headwinds. Data released over the past week shows a clear polarization: Xiaomi Auto and XPeng both exceeded 50,000 units for the first time, while NIO and Li Auto posted year-on-year declines, and BYD maintained its dominant lead with 490,168 units.

Xiaomi Auto breaks the 50,000 barrier

Xiaomi Auto delivered more than 50,000 vehicles in October, marking its highest monthly total of 2026 and the second time the company has surpassed that threshold following December 2025's 50,212 units. The growth has been driven by two product lines: the all-electric SU7 sedan, which continues to find steady demand in the premium segment above RMB 200,000, and the Pengcheng series of extended-range SUVs, launched in September, that is gradually ramping production to address family buyers. Supported by Xiaomi's supply chain advantages, an expanding offline retail network, and broad-based traffic operations, the brand has gone from a smartphone entrant to a credible NEV player in under two years. Using 50,000 as the disclosed lower bound, October deliveries rose at least 2.77% year-on-year and 24.95% month-on-month, with first-10-month cumulative deliveries reaching at least 336,490 units — about 61.2% of its 550,000 annual target. The breakthrough reflects Xiaomi's shift from smartphones to smart mobility, leveraging its ecosystem advantages in software integration, community engagement, and financing options that make EV ownership more accessible to consumers familiar with Xiaomi's products. This transformation positions Xiaomi as a genuine disruptor in China's premium EV market, competing directly with established brands like NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng.

XPeng sets monthly record, NIO hits lowest since April

XPeng delivered 50,237 vehicles in October, surpassing its previous record of 42,013 set in October 2025 — a 19.57% year-on-year increase and 21.77% month-on-month growth. The real strength was in overseas operations, where XPeng delivered a record 13,326 vehicles abroad, up 166% year-on-year and accounting for 26.53% of total deliveries. Domestically, XPeng reached 36,911 units, its highest total in a year. The growth came as XPeng aims to exceed 60,000 monthly sales in the fourth quarter, a target that now appears achievable given the momentum. Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng previously said the company would aim to exceed 60,000 monthly sales in the fourth quarter. The overseas success reflects XPeng's expanding global footprint, particularly in markets like Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, where the brand has been investing in localized after-sales service networks and strategic partnerships. XPeng's G6 electric SUV, which features the company's proprietary XPilot autonomous driving technology, has been particularly successful in export markets where Chinese EVs are gaining traction due to competitive pricing and advanced technology features.

Meanwhile, NIO delivered 34,246 vehicles in October — its lowest monthly total since April and a 15.23% year-on-year decline. The NIO main brand delivered 18,125 units, up 5.73% year-on-year, but this was more than offset by an 8.45% month-on-month drop and a 51.66% year-on-year decline for the Onvo brand, which delivered 8,383 units. Firefly was the only NIO family brand to post growth, delivering 7,738 units, up 30.89% year-on-year. Cumulative deliveries through October reached 334,547, already exceeding NIO's full-year 2025 total, but growth has slowed from 49.24% in the first nine months to 38.46% year-on-year through ten months.

Li Auto's decline deepens

Li Auto delivered 29,025 vehicles in October, down 8.63% year-on-year and 8.78% month-on-month — its second consecutive year-on-year decline and lowest monthly total since February. The new Li MEGA exceeded 3,000 deliveries in October, and the 2026 Li i6 was launched on October 28, with deliveries starting the following day. The updated model features in-house developed driver-assistance chips, battery upgrades, and cabin refinements. Li Auto plans to ramp Li i6 monthly production capacity to 20,000 vehicles in November, with further increases in December. In the first 10 months, Li Auto delivered 322,461 units, down 1.96% year-on-year, a widening decline from 1.25% in the first nine months. Li Auto's decline reflects the intensifying competition in China's extended-range EV segment, where the brand was once dominant but now faces pressure from BYD's plug-in hybrids and Xiaomi's all-electric models. The company's focus on premium family-oriented vehicles worked well in earlier years, but the market has shifted toward more affordable mass-market options and faster-charging battery-electric vehicles.

BYD maintains commanding lead

BYD sold 490,168 NEVs in October, up 10.97% year-on-year and 5.74% from September, marking its sixth consecutive year-on-year growth month and eighth consecutive monthly increase overall. Battery electric passenger vehicle sales reached 305,743 units, up 37.38% year-on-year and topping 300,000 for the first time, setting a record for the third consecutive month. Plug-in hybrid sales totaled 177,382 units, down 17.23% year-on-year, marking a second consecutive month of decline. BYD exported 170,194 NEVs in October, up 102.84% year-on-year, with domestic sales of 319,974 units down 10.57% year-on-year. Through the first 10 months, BYD sold 3,621,744 NEVs, down 2.16% year-on-year but still maintaining the category's largest market share. For more EV coverage see our EV desk.

Market-wide divergence

The October figures illustrate a sector splitting into distinct tiers. Xpeng and Xiaomi Auto are entering high-volume territory, Leapmotor exceeded 100,000 units for the fourth consecutive month, and Huawei-led HIMA deliveries fell more than 50% year-on-year. NIO and Li Auto are in decline, while BYD, Geely Auto, and Chery Group continue to post solid growth. The data, compiled by CnEVPost from company reports, covers 18 major automakers and EV startups, with the top five — BYD, SAIC, Geely Auto, Chery Group, and GWM — accounting for more than 1.35 million units between them.

What to watch next

The next two months will be critical for several brands. Leapmotor needs to average more than 113,000 units per month in November and December to reach its 1,000,000-vehicle annual target. XPeng must sustain its fourth-quarter momentum to surpass the 60,000 monthly target. NIO faces the challenge of reversing its decline as Onvo's delivery ramp continues. For Xiaomi, the question is whether October can prove to be a new record or whether the exact figure will confirm it merely tied the December 2025 high. Sources: CnEVPost roundup of company reports (Transport & Environment, Reuters).

Sources

• CnEVPost roundup: Roundup: October 2026 deliveries by major Chinese automakers
• NIO investor relations: October 2026 delivery update
• Li Auto investor relations: October 2026 delivery update
• Xiaomi Gasgoo: Xiaomi delivers more than 50,000 vehicles in October, setting a new record