So-called ‘new-energy autos’ accounted for a report 62.9 per cent of new-vehicle retail gross sales in China in Might 2026, with electrical autos (EVs) occupying the primary seven locations on the gross sales charts.
EVs accounted for a complete of eight of the highest 10 spots, with the opposite high 10 finishers being autos provided with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and extended-range electrical automobile (EREV) powertrains. The time period ‘new-energy automobile’ contains EVs, PHEVs and EREVs, and subsequently the whole high 10 consisted of NEVs.
In keeping with Electrek, citing knowledge from the China Passenger Automobile Affiliation (CPCA), the Geely Xingyuan (aka EX2) electrical hatch – due in Australia later this 12 months – was the nation’s best-selling automobile.
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It sat forward of the Tesla Mannequin Y and Xiaomi SU7 (not bought right here) EVs in second and third respectively. There have been no pure combustion-powered autos within the high 10.
The Mannequin Y was additionally the best-selling automobile of all gasoline sorts in Australia in Might, overtaking the Ford Ranger and changing into the primary EV to high the native gross sales charts.
It led a surge in demand that noticed EVs declare a report 19.9 per cent market share in Australia, surpassing the earlier report of 16.4 per cent set a month earlier.
An evaluation of CPCA knowledge reveals EVs accounted for roughly 42 per cent of the 1.51 million new-vehicle retail gross sales in Might 2026, a report. This elevated share for EVs in China got here because the market share of internal-combustion engine (ICE) autos fell from 47 per cent in Might 2025 to 37.1 per cent final month.
New-energy automobile gross sales have been down 7.5 per cent 12 months over 12 months in a market that was down 22.1 per cent, however this was as a result of a 24 per cent drop in PHEV gross sales and a 28 per cent drop in EREV gross sales.
Retail gross sales of pure EVs, in distinction, have been up by 3.9 per cent. This has been attributed to rising gasoline prices following greater oil costs linked to battle between the USA and Iran, which additionally pushed petrol and diesel costs greater in Australia.
The report consequence additionally got here regardless of China lowering its trade-in subsidies for 2026, decreasing incentives on cheaper EVs whereas introducing a extra gradual incentive construction throughout the broader EV market.
Among the many standout figures for Might, Chery exported 181,871 autos, nearly three-quarters of its whole month-to-month manufacturing throughout all manufacturers, together with Omoda Jaecoo fashions bought in Australia.
BYD additionally set a model export report with 160,644 autos shipped abroad in Might, together with practically 5000 autos – amongst them the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute – aboard the BYD Zhengzhou vessel certain for Australia because the model tripled its earlier consumption quantity right here.
The model secured second place within the Australian gross sales charts in each April and Might, behind solely market chief Toyota, whose gross sales are down by simply over 30 per cent year-to-date.
Multiple in three new autos bought in Australia in Might have been manufactured in China – together with the top-selling Mannequin Y – whereas Chinese language manufacturers accounted for 4 of the nation’s 10 best-selling marques final month.
