China wholesales January 2025: Geely best-seller, market off -11.7%

The Geely Xingyue L is the best-selling vehicle in China in January.

The cars included in this wholesales database add up to 1,794,856 units, a harsh -11.7% year-on-year drop. CAAM is yet to publish detailed wholesales data. There are a few reasons to this negative performance. January 2024 was a particularly high year-ago comparison basis as sales shot up 47.9% on the year prior due to a mid-February start of the Lunar New Year. This year it started late January, encroaching on the number of selling days this month and preventing the traditional pre-holiday surge to fully materialise. January is also traditionally much weaker than December as carmakers rush wholesales before the end of the year to meet targets. Another potential factor is the La Niña phenomenon bringing drier conditions to Eastern China resulting in a reduced need for vehicle use and therefore sales. CPCA has the domestic brands market share at 61% of passenger cars vs. 55.1% a year ago in January 2024.

The Geely Xingyuan follows at #2.

We have a very interesting surprise atop the wholesales brands ranking this month: Geely (+42.6%) goes completely against the grain to sport its 2nd ever win and breaks its volume record to just under 200,000 units. The carmaker’s previous pole position was in February 2020 when sales were obliterated by the first Covid-19 and just 18,817 sales were enough to rank #1. Notice though that Geely’s monthly figure includes the tremendously successful Galaxy series totalling 46,418 units for the month. No less than five Geely models sell over 20,000 units this month: the Boyue, Galaxy Starship 7, Geometry Xingyuan, Xingrui and Xingyue L. BYD (-4.8%) is dethroned for the first time since February 2024. The Song L (+63.2%), Destroyer 05 (+55.4%) and Han (+19.9%) as well as the new Qin L, Seal 06 and Yuan UP prevent a harsher fall.

Hongqi is up to a record 12th place in January.

Volkswagen (-17.9%) is relegated to third place for the first time since April 2022 and the second time ever. Toyota (-12.9%) fares a little better but remains at a distant 4th place. Changan (-42.3%), which had the CS75 Plus at #1 a year ago, and Honda (-46.9%) both freefall. Chery (-0.5%) and Audi (+1.5%) have stabilised, with the latter back to the top of the German premium ladder above BMW (-23.7%) and Mercedes (-6.1%). In fact Audi is the only foreigner marque in the Top 50 in positive. Wuling (-9.3%) falls slower than the market at #9. Below an imploding Nissan (-29.5%), Hongqi (-0.1%) brilliantly maintains itself above 40,000 monthly sales gains 10 spots on December to land at a record 12th place.

Xpeng breaks into the brands Top 20 for the first time.

As it has been the case for many months now, Jetour (+29.7%) is in outstanding shape at #14, signing a 5th straight 40,000+ sales month. Buick (-22.4%) and Tesla (-15.5%) skid. Xpeng (+243.5%) is up spectacularly year-on-year to record its 2nd best ever monthly volume below last month, breaking into the Top 20 for the first time at #20. Leapmotor (+87.4%) also stuns at #21. Notice also Lynk & Co (+4.1%) above Haval (-30.2%) for the first time since last June and the second time ever. Stars of the last few months, Li Auto (-4%) endures its first year-on-year drop since August 2022 while AITO is hit hard. Xiaomi is above 20,000 monthly sales for the 4th time in a row and reaches a record 22nd place with only one model, the SU7. Luxeed (+1971.2%), Denza (+31.3%) and Deepal (+8.9%) also impress below. Among foreign manufacturers, Ford (-27%), Hyundai (-48.2%), Cadillac (-28.5%), Mazda (-28.3%), Kia (-34.9%) and Chevrolet (-83.6%) all crater.

The Xiaomi SU7 ends the month at a record #11 overall.

Looking at the models ranking in isolation, Geely manages a stunning 1-2. The Xingyue L (+25.8%)- also known as Geely Monjaro and Renault Grand Koleos – is the overall best-seller for the first time, distancing the new Geely Xingyuan. This means Geely has the best-selling car and the best-selling SUV in the country this month. The VW Sagitar (-7.5%) is up 17 spots on December to #3 with the Tesla Model Y (-14.1%) and VW Passat (+12.2%) rounding out the Top 5. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (+60.6%) confirms its return to shape. Geely also places the Xingrui at #10, the Boyue at #12 and the Galaxy Starship 7 at #13. Finally, notice the Xiaomi SU7 up to a record #11.

Previous post: China wholesales Full Year 2024: BYD above 3.5 million sales, domestic brands at 61% share

One year ago: China wholesales January 2024: VW back above BYD, Changan CS75 Plus #1, Auto M7 #5

Full January 2025 Top 98 All brands and Top 564 All models below.