April was an exceptionally active month for China’s auto industry. The opening of the Beijing Auto Show 2026 pushed automakers to ramp up marketing campaigns and promotions in a bid to maximize exposure. At the same time, several models that completed facelifts in the first quarter began showing stronger momentum as the market gradually thawed in April. Among them were the Xiaomi SU7, which led the field with 26,800 sales, and the Xpeng M03, which received its annual facelift in early April and delivered 13,600 units during the month. Beyond these two standout performers, relatively lower-profile models such as the Arcfox Alpha S5 and Changan Nevo A06 also achieved month-on-month sales recoveries through the launch of new variants and promotional incentives. There were exceptions, however. Despite launching updated versions in April, BYD’s three sedan models — Qin PLUS, Seal 06 and Qin L — still failed to reverse their simultaneous month-on-month and year-on-year sales declines. Another notable absence was the Tesla Model 3, a regular fixture on the list, which once again prioritized overseas deliveries early in the quarter and recorded sales of only 2,966 units. Using retail sales rankings published by Yiche and Dongchedi, here’s a closer look at which models stood out in this eventful April. No. 1 Xiaomi SU7: 26,826 units The new-generation Xiaomi SU7, entering its first full delivery month, demonstrated overwhelming dominance. In April, the Xiaomi SU7 sold 26,826 units, up 240.3% month-on-month while down 6.2% year-on-year. Xiaomi SU7 Even so, it ranked second in China’s overall vehicle sales chart for the month, trailing only the Geely Xingyuan, which sold 34,737 units. Order momentum for the Xiaomi SU7 remains strong. On May 6, Lei Jun announced that locked orders for the new-generation SU7 had surpassed 80,000 units. Based on delivery performance from the first-generation SU7, the new model’s peak monthly deliveries could exceed 30,000 units, surpassing the Tesla Model 3’s historical peak of 30,919 units. Notably, Xiaomi may be deliberately prioritizing SU7 production ramp-up, as YU7 sales fell further month-on-month to 9,875 units. Xiaomi is also expected to launch the YU7 GT and an extended-range SUV later this year, putting significant pressure on manufacturing capacity at Xiaomi’s EV plant. No. 2 Xpeng MONA M03: 13,595 units The influence of the 2026 Xpeng Mona M03 is beginning to emerge. In April, the MONA M03 sold 13,595 units, up 46.1% month-on-month while down 4.3% year-on-year. Xpeng MONA M03 The model surged from fifth place in March to second place in April among China’s monthly NEV sedan rankings. The 2026 M03’s RMB 119,800 ($16,400) starting price, younger-oriented styling, and full-scenario driver-assistance capabilities enabled by the Turing AI chip have given it a distinctive position in the RMB 100,000-200,000 ($13,700-$27,400) NEV sedan market. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that the second MONA-series model, the L03, could begin pre-launch promotion following the debut of the Xpeng GX. The SUV is also expected to target younger consumers and democratized smart-driving features. The question is whether it could eventually divert orders away from the M03. No. 3 BYD Qin PLUS: 13,228 units After a brief rebound in March, BYD Qin PLUS sales declined again. In April, the BYD Qin PLUS sold 13,228 units, down 13.9% month-on-month and 48.2% year-on-year. BYD Qin PLUS Neither the launch of the 2026 model year version nor the new 128km Progressive Edition managed to restore the Qin PLUS to its previous monthly sales level of 20,000-30,000 units. Even the continuation of BYD’s three-year zero-interest and seven-year low-interest financing policies in April failed to generate sustained sales growth. Part of the reason may relate to the launch of the Linghui brand. For years, lower-end BYD models have faced criticism over their high ride-hailing fleet penetration, which in turn affected perceptions of the vehicle lineup and even the broader brand image. The launch of the business-focused Linghui brand diverted a substantial portion of Qin PLUS fleet sales away from the model. No. 4 BYD Seal 06: 10,254 units All BYD models on the April ranking recorded both month-on-month and year-on-year declines, and the newly updated Seal 06 was no exception. In April, the BYD Seal 06 sold 10,254 units, down 26.3% month-on-month and 26.9% year-on-year. Its export volume also slipped from 4,266 units in March to around 4,000 units. BYD Seal 06 Around the same period, BYD launched the 2026 Seal 06 GT and the 2026 Seal 06 DM-i Wagon on April 2. The 2026 Seal 06 GT features BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and fast-charging technology that reportedly enables charging from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes. Meanwhile, the 2026 Seal 06 DM-i Wagon gains a larger body size and expanded trunk capacity of 540L. It adopts a 1.5L dedicated hybrid engine paired with fifth-generation DM-i technology, while the 25kWh battery version offers up to 300km of pure electric range. Multiple aspects of the vehicle have been upgraded. With the addition of these two refreshed variants, the question is whether Seal 06 sales will see a significant rebound in May. No. 5 BYD Qin L: 10,171 units Qin L remained BYD’s final representative in the monthly NEV sedan top 10. In April, the BYD Qin L sold 10,171 units, down 16.3% month-on-month and 58.3% year-on-year. BYD’s three sedan models collectively occupied positions No.3 through No.5 on April’s ranking. BYD Qin L In April, BYD introduced a limited-time RMB 3,000 ($410) charging subsidy package and a RMB 4,000 ($550) trade-in subsidy for the Qin L DM-i, lowering the entry price from RMB 96,800 ($13,300) to RMB 89,800 ($12,300). However, judging from April sales performance, the incentives delivered only limited impact. Even so, the BYD Qin family still recorded 23,400 combined sales in April, maintaining strong dominance in the compact family sedan segment. No. 6 Arcfox Alpha S5: 6,046 units From fifth place to sixth place, the ranking experienced a sharp drop in sales volume. In April, the Arcfox Alpha S5 sold 6,046 units, up 79.1% month-on-month and 91.4% year-on-year. Arcfox Alpha Following the refreshed Alpha S5’s launch pricing announced on March 18, the entire lineup received a limited-time RMB 5,000 ($690) discount. It lowers the price range from RMB 104,800-173,800 ($14,400-$23,800) to RMB 99,800-168,800 ($13,700-$23,100). The model also gradually rolled out the 1.3.3 OTA update throughout April, improving infotainment smoothness and voice assistant responsiveness. By bringing its launch pricing below the RMB 100,000 ($13,700) threshold, the Alpha S5 positioned itself directly against mainstream rivals such as the BYD Qin L and Seal 06, increasing its visibility among consumers. No. 7 Changan Nevo A06: 5,959 units The Changan Nevo A06 ranked seventh, trailing the Arcfox Alpha S5 by only 87 units. In April, the Changan Nevo A06 sold 5,959 units, up 20.6% month-on-month. It also marked the model’s highest monthly sales figure since entering its stable sales cycle. Changan Nevo A06 This was partly driven by the launch of the 510 Pro+ and 630 Pro+ variants on April 10. Among them, the RMB 119,900 ($16,400) 630 Pro+ version stood out with an 800V platform, 630km range, all-aluminum double-wishbone front suspension and five-link rear suspension. These features make it highly competitive in the RMB 120,000 ($16,400) segment. On the software side, the entire Nevo A06 lineup received the SDA OS-N 1.3.3 OTA update in April. The update added features such as the Tianshu intelligent tire blowout stabilization system, snow mode, low-speed side-vision assist and karaoke mode without microphones, further enhancing vehicle safety. No. 8 Leapmotor B01: 5,438 units Leapmotor B01 sales are steadily recovering. In April, the Leapmotor B01 sold 5,438 units, up 35.6% month-on-month, though still well below the more than 10,000-unit monthly sales achieved between August and November 2025. Leapmotor B01 This key sales contributor within Leapmotor’s B-series lineup may soon receive a higher-performance variant. A new model believed to be the high-output version of the Leapmotor B01 appeared in China’s MIIT filing catalog in May. As the range-topping version, the model retains the current design language and lidar-equipped roof setup, while increasing motor peak power to 180kW — 20kW higher than the current flagship trim’s 160kW. Based on the current top-trim pricing of RMB 119,800 ($16,400), the high-output B01 variant is expected to be priced around RMB 130,000 ($17,800). No. 9 Deepal L06: 5,189 units The Deepal L06, launched on Nov. 19, 2025, reached its highest monthly sales level since launch in April. In April, the Deepal L06 sold 5,189 units, up 4.7% month-on-month. Deepal L06 After enduring the market slowdown in January and February, sales gradually returned to a healthier trajectory. Capitalizing on Beijing Auto Show traffic in April, Deepal launched the all-electric L06 Max with a starting price of RMB 118,900 ($16,300). Before that, the company also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with JD.com, allowing the extended-range version of the L06 to be sold through the JD app. A significant portion of the L06’s sales growth came from the rollout of the extended-range version on April 17, as test-drive vehicles gradually arrived at dealerships and attracted consumers still concerned about driving range and charging infrastructure. No. 10 AION RT: 4,990 units The refreshed AION RT slipped from seventh place in March to tenth place in April. In April, the AION RT sold 4,990 units, down 8.4% month-on-month while up 8.7% year-on-year. AION RT Considering that the model’s sales have long fluctuated between 3,000 and 5,000 units, April’s performance remained within its normal range. Notably, the AION RT received a product refresh in April, introducing the RT Super battery-swap version alongside refreshed models equipped with CATL batteries as standard across the lineup. Following the AION UT, the RT became the second battery-swappable model under the AION brand. How much these refreshed variants can boost sales will likely become clearer once May sales figures are released.