Image source: Weibo

Dongchedi and Yiche have just released their October large SUV sales rankings. Lei Jun wasted no time announcing the results on Weibo:

Image source: Weibo. An hour later, Lei Jun followed up with another Weibo post, striking while the iron was hot:Image source: WeiboFans also heaped praise on Xiaomi Pengcheng. Image source: Weibo

The Xiaomi Pengcheng N70 and N90 took the top spots in their respective sub-rankings: champions of both the mid-to-large SUV and large SUV segments, with the two cars sweeping the top two spots in monthly extended-range sales.

Image source: Dongchedi APP

Many netizens had previously teased Lei Jun for making empty promises. Now the delivery data speaks for itself, the original goals are being realized, and Pengcheng has arguably cemented its footing with this wave.

Lei Jun had clearly positioned Pengcheng at a launch event: the SU7/YU7 series are "cars for drivers," while the Xiaomi Pengcheng series are "intelligent transformable large-space SUVs"—two sets of answers Xiaomi has delivered to different users after more than five years of carmaking. He also noted that extended-range versus pure electric has never been a dispute over routes, but a difference in product definition and pursuit of experience, and that extended-range cars have great prospects. At the time, many dismissed it as marketing hype, but looking at this ranking now feels completely different.

01 Large SUV Ranking Reshuffled, AITO M9 Drops Out of Top Three

First, the most fiercely competitive large SUV track, with data from Yiche. The Xiaomi Pengcheng N90 delivered 12,587 units, taking first place. The car launched in September, and October was its first full delivery month—surpassing 10,000 and topping the chart in its first month, an opening that exceeded many people's expectations.

Image source: Yiche APP

Second place went to the BYD Datang, with 11,658 units delivered in October. Since deliveries began in June, the car has steadily ramped up, exceeding 10,000 for two consecutive months in September and October—solid momentum. The NIO ES8 and AITO M9 each dropped one place, delivering 8,735 and 8,705 units respectively to rank third and fourth, with the AITO M9 thus falling out of the large SUV top three under heavy pressure.

Once the ranking came out, discussions continued in the comments. Some predicted: "Following Harmony Intelligent Mobility's trend pattern, the M9 will slide further next month." Some car enthusiasts also believed the established players were still strong: "The NIO ES8, AITO M9, and NIO ES9—these three cars are really stable."

The Huajing S delivered 7,507 units, flat from last month with a stable trend. The NIO ES9, after three consecutive months of growth, fell back to 6,690 units in October, gradually entering steady volume sales, with many netizens saying: "The ES9 at 6,690 is a bit beyond expectations." The Li Auto i9 also had its first full delivery month, delivering 5,460 units and rising 7 places—outstanding new-car momentum. The Denza N8L, Leapmotor D19, and Zeekr 9X occupied ranks 8 to 10, with little fluctuation.

The XPeng GX delivered 4,006 units to rank 11, down 5 places month-on-month, with many lamenting: "The XPeng GX is falling so fast." The Onvo L80 and L90 delivered 2,822 and 2,139 units respectively, ranking 12th and 13th, with sales basically stable. The Luxeed G9 and the old Li Auto L9 delivered 1,984 and 1,677 units, with traffic clearly diverted by new cars.

Large SUVs are the high-end flagship battlefield for every brand, with a wide price range and gathered experts. It is inherently very difficult for high-end models to steadily break into the top ten. Lei Jun described Pengcheng this way: it is not just a means of transportation, but can also become part of living space—a one-person studio, a coffee shop for two, a playground for the whole family—with its target aimed directly at the family long-distance travel market. In this round of rankings, the Pengcheng N90 and Li Auto i9 are both newly launched models from the past two months, ramping up very quickly. NIO's all-new ES8, after more than a year of hot sales, has seen a pullback, but its foundation remains, though new rivals are attacking fiercely.

It is not difficult for a new car to spike in the short term; the hard part is sustaining heat. Competition on this track is far from over, and long-term reputation and orders are the key.

02 Pengcheng Tops Both Lines, Xiaomi Tears an Opening in the Extended-Range Track

On the other side, in the mid-to-large SUV track, the Pengcheng N70 took first place. Combined with Dongchedi's ranking, the Pengcheng series delivered 27,132 units in total in October: the N70 delivered 14,545 units, taking first in extended-range sales and first in mid-to-large SUV sales; the N90 delivered 12,587 units, taking second in extended-range sales and first in large SUV sales.

With this result, Lei Jun also posted the ranking on social platforms. One car took the mid-to-large SUV championship, one took the large SUV championship, and together they swept the top two in extended-range sales. This is the highest-value report card since Pengcheng's launch. Many car enthusiasts sighed: "Xiaomi is indeed quite stable, and NIO is also quite stable." Supporters also commented: "Xiaomi cars are simply good in quality and truly recognized by the public!" Rational netizens also pointed out the shortcoming: "Xiaomi currently lacks a good intelligent driving system," which is also the issue many potential buyers care about most.

Looking at the broader market, this result is even more impressive. Data from the China Passenger Car Association shows that in October 2026, domestic passenger car retail sales were 1.643 million units, down 27.1% year-on-year, with the overall market under pressure. But the extended-range track bucked the trend, with wholesale volume of 152,000 units that month, up 19.9% year-on-year and up 31.3% month-on-month.

Simply put, while the overall market cooled, extended-range vehicles strengthened against the trend, mainly because family users and long-distance users want to escape range anxiety. Lei Jun also talked about the underlying logic of making extended-range vehicles: to achieve travel freedom—not picky about fuel or charging piles, ready to drive whenever desired and go wherever desired, relying on large batteries to make interior space flexible and versatile, achieving "space freedom."

Xiaomi's carmaking route is very clear: first use the SU7 to gain a foothold in the pure electric track, then rely on Pengcheng to enter the extended-range track and fill the gap. Pure electric is already highly involuted, while the family extended-range market still has ample room. Earlier, when Lei Jun talked about Pengcheng's goals, doubts kept coming, but now with both cars exceeding 10,000 and both lines topping the charts, sales are the best response.

03 A Single-Month Championship Is Only a Good Start; the High-End Battle Is Not Yet Decided

Of course, winning for a single month does not equal a long-term victory. Lei Jun himself mentioned that Pengcheng was polished for three and a half years before official launch—not a product rushed out to follow trends. New cars often spike initially largely because previously accumulated orders are released in concentrated fashion. Whether they can sustain volume tests delivery stability, after-sales network, quality control, and facelift rhythm. Intelligent driving is especially a shortcoming Xiaomi urgently needs to make up for next.

Established players such as the AITO M9, NIO ES8, and BYD Datang will not easily give up the market.

The current landscape is clear: the overall market is cooling, and involution in extended-range vehicles is intensifying. Xiaomi Pengcheng, relying on two new cars, has torn an opening in the high-end extended-range SUV market, with Harmony Intelligent Mobility, NIO, BYD, and Li Auto close behind, and competition has become white-hot.

The next few months are the real test, determining whether this wave of hit products can defend the throne.

Will the landscape of high-end extended-range SUVs be rewritten because of Pengcheng's latest rise to the top? Welcome to share your views in the comments.

Disclaimer: This article is only a financial commentary on major companies and does not constitute any investment advice. The corporate data and regulatory events mentioned are all from public information and are for reference only; specifics should be subject to official releases. Images are from the internet; if there is any copyright issue, please contact us for deletion.