Leapmotor Overtakes HIMA in China's Fierce EV Race as October Sales Hit Record Highs
China’s electric vehicle startups saw a torrent of sales in October, shattering records in a month that reshuffled the industry’s competitive landscape. Leapmotor Technology Co. pulled off a surprise victory to become the top-selling startup, unseating Huawei’s premium HIMA alliance, while Nio Inc. posted a dramatic sales surge, signaling a potent comeback.
In the fiercest sales month of 2025 to date, Leapmotor delivered 70,289 vehicles, becoming the first Chinese EV startup to surpass the 70,000-unit monthly milestone. The strong performance allowed it to narrowly edge out the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), the automotive coalition backed by Huawei Technologies Co., which delivered a record 68,216 vehicles.
The results underscore the intense competition in the world’s largest auto market, fueled by the traditional “Golden September, Silver October” peak sales season and consumers rushing to lock in purchases before a planned phase-out of new energy vehicle subsidies next year.
Several major players posted new highs. Nio’s deliveries crossed the 40,000-vehicle mark for the first time, jumping 92.6% year-over-year. Meanwhile, Xpeng Inc. and Xiaomi Corp. both solidified their positions by maintaining deliveries above 40,000 units, while established premium player Li Auto Inc. showed signs of strain.
Leapmotor Claims Top Spot With Record Deliveries
Leapmotor Technology Co. catapulted to the top of the sales charts in October, with deliveries climbing over 84% from a year earlier. The company’s success is attributed to its broad product lineup, which includes seven models like the T03, C11, and C01, offering what it calls premium features at mainstream prices. The B01 model has been a consistent performer, securing a top-three spot in the compact pure-electric sedan segment. Leapmotor is poised to further expand its portfolio, with its flagship SUV D19 and electric hatchback Lafa5 set to begin pre-sales, while its new A-series will debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show.
HIMA Posts Strong Sales Despite Losing Crown
Despite being displaced from the top spot, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance demonstrated robust premium market strength. The group, which includes the Aito, Luxeed, Stelato, and other brands, not only set a new delivery record but also achieved an average transaction price of RMB 390,000 yuan (approximately US$54,000), surpassing that of traditional luxury marques like BMW and Audi. HIMA's Luxeed brand sold 12,810 units, while the Stelato brand sold 6,700 units. Its high-end S800 model, priced at over one million yuan, secured 15,000 firm orders in four months but faces production bottlenecks, limiting monthly deliveries to around 2,000 units.
Nio and Xpeng Surge as Turnaround Efforts Pay Off
Nio Inc. registered a powerful rebound, with its 40,397 deliveries in October marking a 92.6% year-over-year increase and its third consecutive month of record sales. The Nio brand itself delivered 17,143 vehicles, complemented by 17,342 from its mass-market Onvo brand and 5,912 from its Firefly small car brand. A key achievement was the delivery of 10,000 units of its new ES8 model, a record for a pure-electric vehicle priced above 400,000 yuan, providing a significant capital infusion for the company.
Xpeng Inc., a rival to Nio, sustained its momentum by delivering 42,013 vehicles, its second straight month above the 40,000-unit level. The result was largely driven by its MONA M03 model, which accounted for over 15,000 units.
Crowded Field Sees Xiaomi Rise, Li Auto Stall
In the increasingly crowded market, other players showed varying fortunes. Xiaomi Corp. continued its strong run, with October deliveries once again exceeding 40,000 units. The tech giant has now delivered over 290,000 vehicles in 2025, putting it on track to meet 83% of its 350,000-unit annual target. Zeekr Technology also posted a strong month, with sales crossing 60,000 units for the first time.
In contrast, Li Auto Inc. reported 31,767 deliveries, a decline both year-over-year and month-over-month. The company is reportedly navigating a challenging transitional period as it shifts its product line toward pure-electric models, facing insufficient production capacity for its new "i" series and weaker orders for its legacy "L" series range-extended vehicles. Other brands like Lantu Automobile also hit new highs, with 17,218 deliveries, as it prepares for an IPO in Hong Kong.