On the inaugural day of China's National Day celebrations, the nation's burgeoning automakers unveiled their impressive "Golden September" sales achievements. On October 1st, several new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers disclosed their delivery data for September 2026, showcasing a diverse range of performances and intensifying competition among the leading contenders. Amidst fierce price wars and frequent product updates, the monthly delivery rankings of these emerging automakers once again surpassed market expectations.

September 2026 Delivery/Sales Rankings for Popular Emerging Automakers:

1. Leapmotor: 105,656 units

2. XPENG Group: 41,256 units

3. Xiaomi Auto: Over 40,000 units

4. HiMode Intelligent Travel: 37,490 units

5. NIO Inc.: 37,408 units (NIO: 21,318 units, ONVO: 8,763 units, Firefly: 7,327 units)

6. Zeekr: 37,216 units

7. Hyper Haobo and Aion: 35,494 units

8. Li Auto: 31,817 units

9. Shenlan Auto: 30,185 units

10. SAIC MG Brand: Over 30,000 units

11. HuaJing Auto: 7,416 units

On the first day of the National Day holiday, several emerging automakers published their September delivery results, revealing fierce competition and growing brand differentiation. The new energy market is no longer dominated by a single entity. Leapmotor continues to lead, surpassing 100,000 monthly sales for three consecutive months. Xiaomi swiftly established itself in the 40,000-unit tier, Li Auto defended its position in the family SUV segment, and newcomer HuaJing also secured a foothold. Consumers now have more choices when purchasing vehicles, and the era when automakers could rely on a single popular model for long-term success is over. The core of competition has shifted from marketing hype to tangible battles over production capacity, distribution channels, and product development pace. The upcoming "Golden September, Silver October" period is expected to be even more intense.

Leapmotor

Leapmotor reported global deliveries of 105,656 units in September, marking a 59% year-on-year increase and the third consecutive month of over 100,000 monthly sales.

As of the end of September 2026, Leapmotor's cumulative global deliveries have surpassed 1.8 million units.

Among the emerging automakers, Leapmotor stands out in the 100,000-unit tier, demonstrating strong growth resilience through full-domain self-research and global expansion. It is currently the brand with the most prominent sales scale in the emerging automaker group.

XPENG Group

XPENG Group reported 41,256 new vehicle deliveries in September, ranking second on the list.

After continuous adjustments to its product lineup and distribution system, XPENG Group's sales have returned to the 40,000-unit tier. With new models and ongoing updates to its intelligent driving system, the brand's product competitiveness continues to improve, securing its market share in the mainstream home-use new energy vehicle segment and returning to the top tier.

Xiaomi Auto

Xiaomi Auto reported over 40,000 deliveries in September.

Since its market entry, Xiaomi Auto's delivery curve has consistently trended upward, establishing a foothold in the high-end pure electric vehicle segment through its product positioning and brand momentum. The monthly delivery figure of over 40,000 units reflects growing market recognition of Xiaomi Auto's product lineup, securing its position in the domestic pure electric vehicle market.

HiMode Intelligent Travel

HiMode Intelligent Travel reported 37,490 new vehicle deliveries in September.

Leveraging HarmonyOS intelligent cockpits and advanced intelligent driving technologies, the brand's diverse model lineup has sustained market enthusiasm. With parallel deliveries across multiple models catering to different price segments, the brand maintains stable delivery volumes in the high-end new energy vehicle market.

NIO

NIO reported 37,408 new vehicle deliveries in September, marking a 7.7% year-on-year increase.

By brand, NIO's main brand delivered 21,318 new units, up 55.3% year-on-year; ONVO delivered 8,763 new units; and Firefly delivered 7,327 new units, up 26.9% year-on-year.

In the first three quarters of 2026, NIO's three brands combined delivered 300,301 new units, up 49.2% year-on-year. NIO, ONVO, and Firefly all set new sales records in the first three quarters.

The multi-brand matrix strategy continues to pay dividends, with NIO covering the market across price segments—from high-end flagships to mass-market offerings—and delivering impressive overall growth in the first three quarters.

Zeekr

Zeekr reported 37,216 new vehicle deliveries in September, marking the eighth consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year and month-on-month growth, with a staggering 103.85% year-on-year increase.

From January to September 2026, Zeekr's cumulative deliveries reached 288,400 units, up 100.84% year-on-year.

Zeekr is one of the brands with the most eye-catching growth on this list, nearly doubling its sales from January to September and maintaining a stable growth trend with eight consecutive months of double-digit increases, demonstrating strong product lifecycle vitality.

Hyper Haobo and Aion

Hyper Haobo and Aion reported 35,494 new vehicle sales in September, marking a 21.9% year-on-year increase.

Leveraging a comprehensive product lineup covering home-use and high-end segments, the brand continues to grow steadily in the pure electric vehicle market. A robust supply chain supports sustained sales growth, securing a stable position in the mainstream new energy vehicle market.

Li Auto

Li Auto reported 31,817 new vehicle deliveries in September 2026.

As of September 30, 2026, Li Auto's cumulative historical deliveries reached 1,833,651 units.

As a benchmark brand in China's extended-range vehicle segment, Li Auto continues to focus on the family SUV market. Its massive cumulative delivery volume represents a vast user base, forming the foundation for future product updates and user engagement.

Shenlan Auto

Shenlan Auto reported global sales of 30,185 units in September.

From January to September 2026, Shenlan Auto's cumulative global sales reached 252,213 units, marking an 8.59% year-on-year increase.

Leveraging a global distribution network, Shenlan Auto pursues a dual-track strategy in domestic and overseas markets. While its single-month growth rate may not be aggressive, it has maintained steady positive growth from January to September, delivering consistent performance in the mainstream new energy vehicle segment.

SAIC MG Brand

The SAIC MG Brand reported global sales exceeding 30,000 units in September.

While deeply rooted in the domestic market, MG's overseas markets serve as a core growth engine. Relying on a mature global sales network, the brand achieves simultaneous sales growth in domestic and international markets, continuing to make strides in the global new energy vehicle market.

HuaJing Auto

HuaJing Auto reported 7,416 deliveries in September, marking the fifth consecutive month of growth.

As a steadily rising new brand, HuaJing maintains a month-on-month growth trajectory, continuously building market reputation and steadily capturing market share in niche segments.

Summary

The September delivery rankings for emerging automakers outline the current tiered landscape of China's domestic new energy vehicle market: Leapmotor stands alone, surpassing 100,000 monthly sales; XPENG, Xiaomi, HiMode Intelligent Travel, NIO, Zeekr, Li Auto, Shenlan Auto, and SAIC MG cluster in the 30,000-40,000 range, with intense competition among tiers; and emerging brands like HuaJing continue to climb steadily, sustaining growth momentum.

As September concludes, competition in the new energy vehicle industry shows no signs of slowing down. Multiple fronts—product, pricing, intelligent driving, and overseas markets—are in play simultaneously. In the upcoming "Silver October," major automakers will continue to push toward their annual targets. The rankings among emerging automakers could shift at any moment.

Interactive Topic: After reviewing September's emerging automaker sales, which automaker do you think is most likely to continue surging in October? Share your thoughts in the comments. Disclaimer: This article is solely a commentary by Zhicaijing and does not constitute any investment advice. All enterprise data and regulatory events mentioned are sourced from publicly available information and are for reference only. Specific details should be based on official releases. Image sources: Internet. If copyright issues arise, please contact us for removal.