XPENG's record October outsells NIO as BYD and Buick push new models

For buyers, the split points to more aggressive pricing. It also points to a faster flow of new models from XPENG and BYD. A weak NIO month usually invites incentives. For competitors, the number to watch is XPENG's overseas volume: 13,326 deliveries outside China, up 166% year over year. The market underneath is still growing. The CPCA estimates China's October NEV wholesale sales at a record 1.8 million. What is still unknown is whether NIO's dip reverses in November. It is also unknown when Buick's Electra GS reaches showrooms.

XPENG's record October

XPENG's 50,237 deliveries were up 22% on September. They were also up 20% on October 2025, according to the company's figures. The previous monthly record was 42,013, set in October 2025. XPENG cleared its own mark by more than 8,000 vehicles. Overseas deliveries reached an all-time monthly high of 13,326 units, up 166% year over year. That export figure is about a quarter of the month's volume. Competitors will study that part. XPENG also launched the L05 in mainland China in October. Deliveries began on 1 November.

NIO's October slip

NIO delivered 34,246 vehicles in October. That was its lowest monthly total since April. The split was 18,125 NIO cars, 8,383 ONVO and 7,738 FIREFLY. Even so, its 2026 total reached 334,547, up 38.5% year over year. Cumulative deliveries reached 1,332,139 at the end of October.

BYD's scale and the Great Han

BYD sold more than 300,000 electric vehicles last month, according to Electrek. The figure is more than the US market sold in the whole third quarter. Through October the company sold 1,953,700 vehicles, up 6% on the same period in 2025. The Great Han launched on 13 October. It reached 4,000 sales in 19 days. It starts at 235,900 yuan, about $35,000. The rear-wheel-drive Premium trim claims up to 1,008 km of CLTC range. All variants use a 102.326 kWh Blade 2.0 pack. BYD says it charges from 10% to 70% in five minutes.

Scale at the top is squeezing the rest. The South China Morning Post reported that pressure is mounting on China's smaller carmakers. That pressure comes as BYD and Geely hit sales highs.

Buick adds a plug-in hybrid sedan

Buick's Electra GS plug-in hybrid sedan appeared in the 413th batch of vehicle filings from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Public comments run from 4 to 10 November. The filing lists three variants. All have a 165 kW (221 hp) electric motor. Their 1,498 ml engines are rated at 72 kW in two variants and 115 kW in the third. All three use lithium iron phosphate batteries. Cells come from Rept Battero Energy or Zenergy. A SAIC-GM subsidiary assembles the packs.

The filing lists no battery capacity, electric range, pricing or launch timing.

What to watch

XPENG's L05 deliveries began on 1 November. That gives the company another volume model to add to October's record. Electrek said the Great Han's early rate could put it at 10,000 or more in its first full month. Buick has not said when the Electra GS goes on sale. The MIIT filing covers a car whose battery and range are still blank. NIO's October was its lowest since April. That leaves November and December to lift its 2026 run rate.

Both companies report monthly, so the next comparison arrives in early December.