BYD knocked off the podium: falls Out of China’s hatchback EV Top 3 in January 2026

In January 2026, China’s entry-level new energy hatchback segment recorded broad month-on-month declines following the end of the long-running purchase tax exemption policy, reshuffling the latest TOP10 rankings, according to Electric Planet News.

Insurance registration data released within the past four weeks show that the segment’s leading models all posted double-digit sequential drops. The top two models were the only ones to exceed 10,000 units, while the tenth-ranked vehicle fell to 2,200 units, significantly below December levels.

Top 10 Best‑Selling Hatchback EVs in China, January 2026

Geely’s Geome Xingyuan led the January chart with 29,007 units. Despite a 19% month-on-month decline, it remained among the country’s highest-volume new energy passenger cars. SAIC’s MG4 ranked second with 10,007 units, down approximately 29% from December but moving up from sixth place. The updated MG4 measures approximately 4.4 meters in length and recently began deliveries of its solid-state battery variant, priced at approximately 100,000 yuan (13,812 USD).

The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV recorded 7,133 units, marking its first month below 10,000 sales since launch. Wuling’s Binguo S followed with 6,077 units. BYD’s Dolphin and Seagull placed fifth and sixth with 5,699 and 5,329 units, respectively. Both models recently appeared in MIIT filings with optional LiDAR configurations, suggesting higher-level driver-assistance hardware in the sub-100,000 yuan segment.

The Arcfox T1 registered 4,239 units, while Nio’s Firefly brand delivered 2,737 units, retaining eighth position after several months of prior growth. Firefly’s right-hand-drive version has begun overseas shipments, with international deliveries accounting for approximately 15% of total volume by late 2025, according to the company’s disclosures in the past quarter.

Wuling Binguo ranked ninth with 2,620 units. GAC Aion’s UT entered tenth with 2,200 units. The Aion UT starts at 69,800 yuan, equivalent to approximately 9,641 USD, offering a 330 km CLTC range in its base configuration.

From a product standpoint, several models in this segment are positioned between 60,000 and 100,000 yuan, or roughly 8,287 to 13,812 USD. Recent MIIT filings indicate that LiDAR hardware is being introduced to compact EVs at lower price points, while battery technology upgrades, including semi-solid-state applications, are entering mass production.

With the policy transition completed and seasonal factors affecting January demand, February and March registration data will provide further clarity on whether these ranking shifts reflect structural change or short-term adjustment within China’s 2026 hatchback EV cycle.