As the first half of 2026 draws to a close, automakers have released their sales results. The top five independent automakers continue to exhibit a "one superpower, multiple strong players" pattern. In terms of first-half sales, BYD leads with 1.8 million units, while Geely, Chery, and Changan have sales ranging from 1 million to 1.5 million units. Great Wall Motors sold approximately 580,000 units, representing a smaller market presence. Regarding annual target achievement rates, Geely and Chery performed relatively well, both exceeding 40%, while the other three automakers maintained rates above 30%.

Rank 1: BYD - 1,808,511 units

BYD maintains its position as the leader among the top five independent automakers. However, influenced by sales declines in the first four months, BYD's cumulative sales for the first half of this year reached 180,511 units, a year-on-year decrease of 15.72%. Despite its overall market leadership, BYD faces pressure in terms of year-on-year growth.

From a sales structure perspective, the Dynasty and Ocean series remain the core pillars of BYD's sales, with a notable shift in market dynamics between the two. Data shows that the Ocean series achieved cumulative sales of 799,022 units in the first half, surpassing the Dynasty series. Five models in the Ocean series each exceeded 100,000 units in half-year sales. The Dynasty series also performed steadily, with cumulative sales of 713,815 units in the first half. The Yuan and Song series each achieved over 200,000 units in half-year sales.

Beyond these, BYD's other brand matrices also feature bright spots. Denza sold 66,000 units in the first half, a year-on-year decline of 16.65%. However, with the rapid sales growth of new models like the Denza Z9 and N8L, Denza's overall sales exceeded 20,000 units in June, breaking the long-standing sales plateau of around 10,000 units and signaling new opportunities for brand elevation. The Fang Cheng Bao brand delivered a pleasant surprise, with first-half sales nearing 160,000 units, a staggering year-on-year increase of 162%. The Bao 7 model alone surpassed 100,000 units in half-year sales, strongly driving the brand upward and filling gaps in the off-road vehicle market segment. The Yangwang brand recorded cumulative sales of 1,972 units in the first half.

Against the backdrop of domestic market challenges, overseas markets naturally became BYD's second growth engine. In the first half of this year, BYD's overseas sales reached 789,300 units, a year-on-year increase of nearly 68%, showcasing strong growth momentum. Media reports indicate that BYD's annual sales target is 5 million units, with a current target achievement rate of 36.17%. Previously constrained by production capacity for second-generation blade batteries, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu stated in June that monthly sales should increase by 20,000-30,000 units until the end of the year as capacity is released. Based on this trend, BYD's prospects for achieving its annual sales target appear optimistic.

Rank 2: Geely Automobile - 1,422,958 units

Amid a 5% year-on-year decline in the domestic passenger vehicle market, Geely Automobile delivered total sales of 1,422,958 units in the first half, achieving a 1% year-on-year increase against the trend—a commendable feat.

From a brand-specific perspective, each segment exhibited differentiated development trends.

Geely China Star sold 580,580 units in the first half, experiencing only a slight 6% decline despite the shrinking fuel vehicle market. Geely Galaxy sales rebounded to over 100,000 units in June, a 20% year-on-year increase, reversing earlier weakness, with cumulative first-half sales nearing 520,000 units. Lynk & Co faced the most noticeable pressure among Geely's brands, with first-half sales of 144,215 units, a 6% year-on-year decline.

However, Geely's new energy segment performed exceptionally well. In the first half, Geely's cumulative new energy sales reached 799,454 units, a 10% year-on-year increase, setting a new historical high for the same period. The Zeekr brand, in particular, led the growth, delivering 178,370 units in the first half, a 97% year-on-year surge. Not only did Zeekr's monthly deliveries exceed 35,000 units in June, but it also became the only new energy vehicle brand among all emerging players to surpass 50% of its annual target in the first half, far exceeding the industry average.

Simultaneously, explosive growth in overseas markets served as Geely's "ballast stone" against domestic market pressures. In June, Geely's exports exceeded 100,000 units for the first time, with first-half exports reaching 474,200 units, surpassing last year's total and a staggering 158% year-on-year increase. Leveraging overseas market performance, Geely continuously raised its full-year overseas target from an initial 640,000 units to 750,000 units, effectively alleviating competitive pressure in the domestic passenger vehicle market.

In the second half of this year, Geely will introduce a new product matrix to inject fresh vitality into sales growth. The Galaxy sequence, a key player in new energy, plans to launch two major models: the Galaxy Warship 700 and the Galaxy TT, targeting the off-road and pure electric coupe segments, respectively. Lynk & Co will introduce the Lynk & Co 07GT and Lynk & Co 20, enriching its sporty new energy product lineup. Zeekr will continue to refine its high-end product matrix. These new products, covering different price points and market segments, are expected to sustain growth and help Geely achieve its annual sales target.

Rank 3: Chery Automobile - 1,357,533 units

Chery Automobile sold 1,357,533 units in the first half of this year, a 7.7% year-on-year increase, topping the growth rate among the top five independent automakers, with a 42.4% annual target achievement rate.

However, Chery's sub-brands collectively faced pressure. Jetour sold 258,737 units in the first half, a 13.6% year-on-year decline. Exeed recorded 26,430 units in first-half sales, a 43% year-on-year drop. The Hongmeng Zhixing Zhijie brand sold only 19,345 units in the first half, a 56.9% year-on-year decline. The collective slowdown of these three sub-brands dragged down overall structural balance.

Fortunately, Chery's main brand shouldered the growth burden, with first-half sales strongly surpassing 910,000 units, a 25% year-on-year increase. Supported by solid product strength and precise market positioning, it solidified its position as the core pillar of brand development. The iCAR brand also performed steadily, selling 45,392 units in the first half, a 2% year-on-year increase.

The new energy segment emerged as Chery's most prominent growth area in the first half. In June, new energy sales reached 113,583 units, a 58.7% year-on-year increase, with cumulative first-half sales of 475,238 units, a 32.3% year-on-year improvement. Behind these impressive results lies strong support from Chery's continuously improving new energy product matrix. Meanwhile, Chery's long-established overseas sales network and production bases enabled it to continue its overseas expansion, with export sales reaching 945,000 units, a 71.5% year-on-year increase. Based on current progress, Chery should face little difficulty in achieving its annual target.

Rank 4: Changan Automobile - 1,195,600 units

In the first half of this year, Changan Automobile achieved cumulative sales of 1,195,600 units, an 11.8% year-on-year decline.

Among Changan's three major brands, Avatr faced sustained sales pressure, failing to exceed 10,000 deliveries in any month during the first half, with June deliveries reaching 7,459 units. In contrast, Changan Qiyuan and Shenlan maintained stable sales growth, with Changan Qiyuan delivering over 173,000 units and Shenlan Automobile selling over 164,000 units cumulatively. Despite overall pressure, Changan Automobile achieved phase achievement (phased results) in its new energy transformation, with cumulative first-half new energy sales of 456,000 units, a 4.2% year-on-year increase. Changan's overseas business growth remained relatively sluggish, with first-half export sales of 402,000 units, a mere 35% increase.

To address growth gaps and Sprint its annual target, Changan will launch multiple new models in the second half. The Qiyuan Q06, officially released on July 15, positions itself as a mid-to-large SUV, featuring standard laser radar and the self-developed "Tianshu Pilot" intelligent driving system. The Avatr 07L, planned for an August launch, is a large five-seat SUV with a 2,990mm wheelbase, equipped with Huawei's Qiankun intelligent driving and HarmonyOS cockpit systems. Additionally, the Shenlan S07 has introduced a Huawei Qiankun laser version, achieving full intelligent driving coverage, while multiple models will accelerate their overseas market launches. With the comprehensive rollout of its new product matrix, Changan's new energy and market segment layouts will gradually improve, strengthening the competitiveness of its intelligent products. This is expected to drive sustained growth in new energy sales, alleviate domestic market pressure, and provide core product momentum for pursuing its annual sales target.

Rank 5: Great Wall Motors - 583,895 units

Great Wall Motors sold 583,895 units in the first half of this year, a 2.5% year-on-year increase, ranking second in growth rate among the top five independent automakers, with a 32.4% target achievement rate.

In the first half, Great Wall's pickup and Tank brands, long-time pillars of its revenue and profits, both faced pressure. Pickup sales reached 92,512 units, a 3.8% year-on-year decline. Tank sales stood at 92,653 units, a roughly 10.6% year-on-year decrease. With increasing entrants in the off-road and high-end pickup segments, including BYD's pickup and other competing models, industry competition intensified, weakening the competitive barriers and profit margins of Great Wall's traditional high-margin areas.

Under pressure, other segments of Great Wall Motors demonstrated strong growth resilience, becoming key forces for breakthroughs. Ora, in particular, stood out, with June sales rebounding to over 10,000 units, reaching 10,806 units—its first time exceeding 10,000 units since 2024. Ora's first-half sales reached 26,380 units, a staggering 89.74% year-on-year increase. Wey also performed well, with sales rising 29.05% year-on-year to 44,514 units. Haval maintained steady growth, with sales increasing 1.82% year-on-year to 327,290 units. Overseas markets continued to contribute incremental growth, with first-half exports reaching 291,400 units, a 47.44% year-on-year increase, accounting for nearly half of total sales and becoming a significant force supporting overall volume.

Final Thoughts

The first-half automotive market results present a mixed picture for the top five independent automakers, with distinct growth trajectories. Geely and Chery achieved positive sales growth despite industry pressures. BYD, while experiencing an overall sales decline, maintained its lead among the top five. Changan saw a year-on-year decrease in total sales but looks to new product launches in the second half for a breakthrough. Great Wall achieved slight growth, though its core profit-generating segments weakened.

Looking ahead, technological and product competition in the new energy vehicle sector, overseas market share battles, and multi-brand matrix operational capabilities will emerge as the three core variables influencing the industry rankings of the top five. Whether the top five independent automakers can achieve their annual sales targets depends on both the broader industry environment and their comprehensive performance in the second half of the year.

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