The automotive market has been notably sluggish for all manufacturers in the first four months of 2026.

From January to April, domestic auto sales have been sluggish, with a roughly 20% decline, affecting both gasoline-powered and new energy vehicles.

Given such a substantial drop in overall sales, it is unsurprising that automakers' overall performance has suffered. As the saying goes, 'When the nest falls, no egg can remain unscathed.'

Data released in January, February, and March reflected generally lackluster performances from major automakers.

Now, with the release of April's figures, it is evident that automakers' performances have not met expectations. Although there appears to be some improvement compared to March, the overall situation remains weak.

Certainly, some automakers have experienced notable sales increases, but most have performed on an average level. Let's now examine the April sales situation of emerging automakers.

As illustrated in the figure above, this is the comprehensive data from reports released by various automakers. It is a mixed bag, with some celebrating and others concerned. Compared to March, most automakers appear to be experiencing growth, though there are also declines.

In terms of total sales, Leapmotor achieved an impressive 71,000 units, setting a new record for the company and marking a more than 40% increase compared to March. Its performance is truly remarkable. It seems that Leapmotor, with its strategy of low prices and high volumes, is becoming increasingly competitive.

Following Leapmotor are six automakers with relatively similar sales figures, all ranging from 30,000 to 35,000 units. While this is less than half of Leapmotor's sales, it still represents a significant achievement, with each exceeding 30,000 units.

These six automakers are Li Auto with 34,000 units, Seres with 33,000 units, HiMode with 32,800 units, Zeekr with 32,000 units, Xpeng with 31,000 units, and Xiaomi with over 30,000 units. The differences among them are minimal.

Xiaomi is particularly intriguing, as it only announces rounded figures each time, yet its total sales consistently exceed the announced number, sometimes by a thousand or two, and other times by seven or eight thousand. So, what is the exact figure for this 30,000+? Could it surpass Li Auto's 34,000 units?

There are also automakers with sales below 30,000 units, such as NIO, which is close to but did not reach 30,000 units, as well as VOYAH and IM Motors. Of course, some automakers have not disclosed their sales figures, but relatively speaking, the main emerging forces are listed above.

It is evident that the current market landscape features one dominant player and several strong contenders. The dominant player is Leapmotor, which is indeed exceptionally strong. The other six or seven automakers, such as NIO, Xpeng, Li Auto, and Xiaomi, are all at the 30,000-unit level, with their performances not differing significantly.

Of course, the absence of major model releases in recent months may have also impacted sales. By May, the situation could change, especially for HiMode, which has already launched a significant number of vehicles. If each model sells 10,000 units, total sales could exceed 100,000 units.

In conclusion, the beginning of 2026 has indeed been challenging for automakers, with all facing considerable pressure. It remains to be seen how they will fare in the remaining eight months of the year. If the trend from the first four months continues, it is doubtful that many of the ambitious goals set at the beginning of the year will be achieved.