- Chinese EVs are winning mainly because they’re much cheaper. BYD already undercut Tesla, and now Geely’s Xingyuan is even cheaper.
- Launched by Geely Auto in October 2024, the Geely Xingyuan became China’s best-selling EV in 2025, beating the BYD Seagull and Tesla Model Y with nearly 430,000 units sold in under a year.
- Starting under $10,000, the Xingyuan delivers good range, a premium-feeling interior, smart software, rear-wheel drive, and better ride quality than most cheap EVs—things buyers don’t expect at this price.
So, is the EV market just a game of affordability? Earlier, it was China’s BYD leaving behind the world’s top EV company, Tesla. BYD cars are much cheaper, often $10,000 cheaper than Tesla’s most affordable model.
And now, a new cheap electric car is dominating the Chinese EV market. It’s selling at a price that would make both BYD and Tesla nervous. The car is called the Xingyuan, a small electric hatchback, launched by Geely Auto, the sister company of Volvo, Polestar, and Zeekr.
Keep reading the article to explore what Xingyuan is offering at such a low price and how it is dominating the Chinese EV market, outselling major EV brands.
How Xingyuan is Dominating the Chinese EV Market
Xingyuan was launched in October 2024. In the first half of 2025, it dethroned the BYD Seagull and Tesla Model Y as China’s best-selling EV, with over 200,000 units sold. From January to November, nearly 430,000 Xingyuans have been sold more than any other EV.
The primary reason behind this fast growth is that the Xingyuan is very cheap, even by Chinese standards. Its 2026 model starts at around $9,700 and goes up to about $12,340, putting it in a similar price range as its main rival, the Seagull.
Affordable on Paper, Surprisingly Premium in Reality
The Xingyuan appears to offer incredible value on paper, edging out BYD Seagull, which has long ruled the affordability game. It provides cutting-edge software, interior space that outclasses rivals, and high-quality materials inside.
Many Chinese reviewers say Xingyuan feels more premium than EVs, costing more.
Battery & Range
The Xingyuan is based on Geely’s dedicated EV platform for affordable models, known as the Sustainable Experience Architecture-Entry (SEA-E). You’ll get two CATL lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery options.
In the base version of this car, you’ll get a 30 kWh LFP battery pack, which delivers 310 Km (192 miles) of range. On the other hand, the upper version model uses a 40 kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 410 Km (254 miles).
However, these ranges are significantly less than the top version of the BYD Dolphin, which has 520 Km of range. But Dolphin would cost thousands of dollars more than Xingyuan. And also, China has the world’s largest charging network, meaning even a lower range EV has more appeal when you have chargers everywhere.
According to recent data, there are two chargers for every five cars in China, and the total number of charging points has surpassed 16 million. Most of these chargers are privately owned, like those installed at homes or workplaces.
Ride Quality: Drives Better than Cheap Cars usually do
Other areas where the Xingyuan outclasses other EVs include the chassis. Most small, cheap cars are front-wheel drive and have basic suspension.
But Xingyuan is rear-wheel drive and gets independent rear suspension for a better ride comfort and handling, which is rare for affordable superminis.
Xingyuan Interior and Features
The Xingyuan uses the same Flyme Auto smart cockpit system found in more expensive Geely cars. In my opinion, the system is undoubtedly superior to the BYD both visually and in terms of user experience.
It features a 14.1-inch infotainment display and an 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster. It also has a 375-liter boot and a 70-liter frunk, combined.
However, the Geely cut down some features to keep the price low. The car doesn’t have rear wipers, and the front wipers don’t have an automatic function. Also, there’s no automatic air conditioning.
Since the car is affordable, you’ll be able to see a lot of hard plastic inside. However, that isn’t the real concern. What matters more is where that hard plastic is used. You’ll notice that the hard plastic is not present on the key touchpoints, such as where your knees rest against the center console and the elbow resting areas
These places still feel soft. So, you’re not interacting with the hard plastic in your daily driving.
Xingyuan Exterior Design
In my opinion, Seagull looks like a scrappy little bulldog. But the Xingyuan is softer, rounder, and more approachable. It is also available in a variety of lovely pastel colors. After seeing all the color options, I can say that this car is aimed at catering to mostly female buyers.
Why Should BYD and Tesla Worry?
Since its launch in October 2024, Geely has already sold more than half a million units of the Xingyuan. In the first three quarters of 2025, the car became the world’s third best-selling EV, behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.
If its current sales trajectory continues, it would not only become China’s top-selling EV but also potentially overtake the Tesla Model 3 globally.
In short, China isn’t just winning the EV race; it’s building electric cars that are cheaper, better equipped, and selling faster than anything Tesla or BYD can offer.
What are Your Thoughts?
Now, I want to hear from you:
- Do you think low price alone is enough to win the EV race?
- If an EV costs under $10,000 but has fewer features, would you still buy it?
- Would Tesla and BYD be in trouble if cars like the Xingyuan were sold outside China?
- What matters more to you in an EV: longer range or better value for money?
Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.
Sources: Inside EVs
