--- title: "Top 10 Monthly Sales List Excludes ICE Vehicles for the First Time" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/289252889.md" description: "In May 2026, the top 10 list of passenger car retail sales in China was completely dominated by new energy vehicles (NEVs) for the first time, with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles entirely absent. Geely Xingyuan, Tesla Model Y, and Xiaomi SU7 ranked in the top three. The structural shift from ICE vehicles holding seven spots in January to zero in May took less than six months, reflecting an accelerated market transition toward NEVs" datetime: "2026-06-10T00:55:40.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/289252889.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/289252889.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/289252889.md) --- # Top 10 Monthly Sales List Excludes ICE Vehicles for the First Time In May 2026, the Chinese passenger car market reached a landmark milestone. According to the latest May passenger car retail sales ranking released by Dongchedi, the top ten best-selling models were all occupied by new energy vehicles (NEVs). For the first time in decades, traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles were completely absent from the "Monthly Top 10 Sales" list, which represents mass consumer demand. It did not take years for ICE vehicles to go from dominating the majority of the market to completely exiting the top tier; it took less than half a year. This seemingly sudden "reset to zero" is actually a structural turning point that has arrived with acceleration after years of buildup in the Chinese auto market. A close analysis of the May retail data reveals that NEV models not only monopolized the top ten list in terms of quantity but also presented a diversified landscape in terms of segment coverage and powertrain types. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) all made the list. In the specific rankings, the Geely Xingyuan, targeting the micro EV market, topped the chart with strong momentum, recording 38,751 units sold. In the high-value segment, which represents the pinnacle of profits and brand prestige, NEV models have also established a firm foothold. The Tesla Model Y secured second place with 28,911 units, continuing to hold the leading position among mid-size pure electric SUVs. Close behind is the representative camp of new automakers. The Xiaomi SU7 alleviated industry concerns about its sales peaking immediately after launch, stabilizing at third place and entering a period of stable, high-volume deliveries. The Leapmotor A10 and Li Auto i6 ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. These two models addressed the practical needs of family users, receiving strong market feedback. The pace at which ICE vehicles exited the top ten was faster than even the most aggressive industry predictions. Looking back at the changes in the rankings since the beginning of this year, traditional ICE vehicles have followed an unusually steep downward curve. In January this year, ICE vehicles still accounted for seven of the top ten spots. At that time, compact sedans from joint venture brands and fuel-powered SUVs from domestic brands were the absolute mainstay of car purchases during the early-year homecoming rush. However, by March, accompanied by the full-scale outbreak of a new round of auto price wars after the Spring Festival and rising oil prices, the number of ICE vehicles on the list rapidly shrunk to five, significantly intensifying the standoff between fuel and electric vehicles. Entering April, only one ICE vehicle, the Geely Binyue, remained in the top ten, struggling to hold on as the sole survivor. By May, the presence of ICE vehicles was completely wiped out. In less than 150 days, the share dropped from a dominant 70% to 0%. The core reason lies in the shift of pricing power and product definition authority. The reshaping of the pricing system dealt the most direct blow to ICE vehicles. The comprehensive price cuts initiated by leading NEV manufacturers at the beginning of the year directly breached the pricing systems of joint venture and domestic ICE vehicles. In particular, the affordability of PHEV and EREV models not only matched or even fell below the initial purchase cost of comparable ICE vehicles but also formed an overwhelming advantage in daily usage costs, shaking the last remaining adherence to ICE vehicles among mainstream first-time buyers and those looking to upgrade or replace their cars. The shift in consumer perception is equally irreversible. As the penetration rate of domestic NEV passenger cars repeatedly hits new highs, consumers' criteria for judging a "good car" have shifted. The focus has moved from solely valuing the "three major components" (engine, transmission, and chassis) in the past to considering intelligent cockpits, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and the overall electronic and electrical architecture. Against the backdrop of a lack of breakthrough technological iterations, traditional ICE vehicles are gradually losing their product definition authority in the mainstream mass market. However, exiting the top ten sales list for a single month does not mean that ICE vehicles are facing physical extinction. The passenger car market is sufficiently complex. In vast lower-tier markets, remote areas where charging infrastructure networks are not yet fully covered, regions with extremely cold climates, and specific scenarios requiring high-intensity long-distance driving, ICE vehicles still maintain a huge installed base and rigid demand due to their high refueling efficiency and all-weather reliability. Nevertheless, the data inflection point in May sent a clear signal: the era of ICE vehicles "making easy money" has come to a complete end. The top rankings represent the mindset trends of mass consumption. When the most mainstream and largest middle-layer consumers begin to vote with their hard-earned money to abandon ICE vehicles, traditional automakers face a severe strategic choice. In the foreseeable future, the passenger car market may present polarized response strategies. On one hand, ICE vehicles will adopt more normalized, or even more aggressive, "price-for-volume" strategies in the terminal market to maintain the baseline capacity of factories. On the other hand, this will force traditional automakers to accelerate through the pain period, continuously tilting core resources originally used for internal combustion engine research and development toward the NEV route. The May ranking is a signal, not the endgame. ICE vehicles will not disappear overnight, but the speed at which they are exiting the top tier is already faster than everyone anticipated. Market risks exist; investment requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the specific investment objectives, financial status, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article align with their specific circumstances. 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