Tesla Faces New Rivals in China’s Booming EV Market

China’s auto market witnessed a robust surge in June, selling a total of 2.084 million vehicles, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), CarNewsChina reports. This marks an 18.1% increase year-over-year and a 7.6% rise compared to May 2025.

The biggest highlight: electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for 1.1 million units, claiming 53.3% of total car sales — a clear signal of China's ongoing transition toward greener mobility.

“Hybrid and electric cars now dominate the Chinese market in price segments under 250,000 yuan,”

the outlet noted, pointing to the rapid shift in consumer preference and production capabilities of domestic manufacturers.

First Half-Year Total: 10.9 Million Cars Sold

In the first six months of 2025, China's auto industry moved 10.9 million vehicles, marking a 10.8% increase over the same period last year.

Top-Selling Cars in China by Price Segment

Under 100,000 Yuan

• Geely Geome Xingyuan – 204,000 units
• BYD Seagull – 175,000 units
• Wuling Hongguang Mini EV – 171,000 units
• BYD Qin Plus – 164,000 units
• Volkswagen Lavida – 137,000 units

100,000 – 150,000 Yuan

• BYD Qin Plus – 164,000 units
• Geely Xingyue L – 146,000 units
• BYD Song Plus – 137,000 units
• Volkswagen Lavida – 137,000 units
• Nissan Sylphy – 136,000 units

150,000 – 250,000 Yuan

• BYD Qin Plus – 164,000 units
• Xiaomi SU7 – 156,000 units
• Geely Xingyue L – 146,000 units
• BYD Song Plus – 137,000 units
• Volkswagen Lavida – 137,000 units

250,000 – 350,000 Yuan

• Tesla Model Y – 172,000 units
• Xiaomi SU7 – 156,000 units
• Toyota Camry – 98,000 units
• Toyota RAV4 – 97,000 units
• Li Auto L6 – 96,000 units

350,000 – 500,000 Yuan

• Audi A6L – 84,000 units
• BMW 3 Series – 80,000 units
• Mercedes-Benz GLC – 70,000 units
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class – 70,000 units
• Audi Q5L – 67,000 units

Over 500,000 Yuan

• Audi A6L – 84,000 units
• Mercedes-Benz GLC – 70,000 units
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class – 66,000 units
• Aito M9 – 60,000 units
• BMW 5 Series – 59,000 units

CarNewsChina highlights that Chinese EVs continue to outperform foreign competitors in the sub-250,000 yuan range, thanks to aggressive pricing and local production scale. As Xiaomi ramps up production at its new factory, experts believe Tesla’s Model Y may soon lose its dominance in the mid-tier price bracket.

“Tesla’s days at the top of the 250K–350K segment may be numbered,”

the report concludes, emphasizing the rise of local brands in the premium EV race.