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This $10,000 EV outsold the BYD Seagull and Tesla Model Y in China

The best-selling vehicle in China, EV or gas-powered, in the first half of 2025 was not the BYD Seagull or Tesla Model Y. It was actually the Geely Xingyuan. AKA the “Star Wish,” Geely’s EV topped the sales charts with prices starting under $10,000 in China.

Geely’s $10,000 EV outsells BYD and Tesla in China

BYD’s smallest EV, the Seagull, went back and forth with the Tesla Model Y for the title of most popular electric vehicle in China last year.

Through the first half of 2025, there’s a new leader at the top spot. According to Chinese media outlet Yiche, the Geely Geome Xingyuan was the best-selling EV in China through H1 2025, dethroning the BYD Segaull and Tesla Model Y.

Geely sold nearly 205,000 Xingyuan models in China through June. The BYD Seagull was second with 174,912 units sold, followed by the Tesla Model Y in third at 171,491.

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The Geely Xingyuan EV starts at 69,800 yuan in China, or just under $10,000. It’s available with two CATL-made LFP battery packs: 30.12 kWh or 40.16 kWh. The former is suitable for a CLTC range of 310 km (192 miles), while the latter is rated for 410 km (255 miles).

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Best-selling vehicles in China in the first half of 2025 (Source: Yiche)

Although it was beaten out by Geely’s Star Wish, the BYD Seagull still put up impressive numbers, selling nearly 30,000 units per month.

To keep pace, BYD slashed prices (again) earlier this year to just 55,800 yuan ($7,800). The Seagull is typically priced from 69,800 yuan ($9,700), which is the same as the Xingyuan.

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BYD Seagull EV (sold as the Dolphin Mini and Dolphin Surf overseas) Source: BYD

The Wuling Hongguan MINI EV (171,046) and BYD Qin PLUS (163,603) rounded out the top five. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi SU7 is quickly climbing the charts with over 155,000 units sold, ranking sixth. Despite limited production capacity, monthly SU7 sales have now averaged over 20,000 since October.

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Xiaomi SU7 (Source: Xiaomi)

Tesla’s Model Y remained the top-selling premium EV in China in the first half of the year, but Xiaomi’s SU7 is quickly closing in.

Where will the rankings end up by the end of the year? It’s shaping up to be a close race in the world’s largest EV market. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Yiche

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Avatar for Peter Johnson Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson is covering the auto industry’s step-by-step transformation to electric vehicles. He is an experienced investor, financial writer, and EV enthusiast. His enthusiasm for electric vehicles, primarily Tesla, is a significant reason he pursued a career in investments. If he isn’t telling you about his latest 10K findings, you can find him enjoying the outdoors or exercising