Onvo L80
Now that May 2026 has been studied, let’s focus on the latest launches on the Chinese market. Once again this month is very busy with lot of models launched at the Beijing Auto Show making their way into dealerships. As a result we have 12 new models hitting the charts, including 4 foreigners. To fully understand the scope of the Chinese market, make sure you consult our Exclusive Guide to all 192 active Chinese Brands.
1. Wuling Bingo Pro (13,657 sales)
Wuling has another hit on its hands with the new Bingo Pro already surpassing 13,000 wholesales in its first month in market. Positioned as a smart, urban A0-segment vehicle, it sits between the standard Wuling Bingo and the larger Bingo S. The Bingo Pro adopts a distinctive “neo-retro” styling, characterised by smooth curves, rounded body lines, and a flowing, water-drop silhouette. It comes in at 4,050 mm long, 1,758 mm wide and 1,580 mm high with a 2,560 mm wheelbase.
Unlike many competitors in this class that only seat four, the Bingo Pro features a 5-door, 5-seat configuration. It also standardises features like wireless phone charging, smart parking assist, and an electric tailgate across the lineup. There are two LFP battery pack options: 31.9 kWh for a 330 km range and 37.9 kWh for a 403 km range. Charging time is 15 minutes from 30% to 80% via DC fast charging. The Bingo Pro is priced from 56,800 to 70,800 yuan (7,300-9,100€ or US$7,850 to 9,800). Main competitors include the BYD Seagull, Geely Xingyuan, Leapmotor A10 and Chery QQ3 EV. The Bingo Pro is already above its bar for success.
Bar for success: 10,000 monthly sales
2. Arcfox Beta S3 (7,492 sales)
The Beta S3 is a highly strategic vehicle for Arcfox’s parent company BAIC as it shakes up the mid-size segment by utilising a very aggressive pricing structure and pairing up with CATL’s Choco-SEB battery-swapping network. The Beta S3 features a sleek, coupe-like fastback silhouette with smooth, flowing body lines designed to maximise aerodynamic efficiency. The front end utilises the signature Arcfox “star-ring” split LED headlight clusters paired with a closed grille and an aggressive, inverted trapezoidal lower cooling vent. The side profile showcases semi-concealed door handles. The S3 stands at 4,916 mm long, 1,900 mm wide and 1,480 mm high with a 2,876 mm wheelbase
The cabin is dominated by a massive 15.6-inch floating central touchscreen command centre paired with an 8.8-inch digital driver instrument cluster. It also features a 50W wireless smartphone charging pad and an electronic column shifter to free up centre console space. The S3 features BAIC’s Yuanjing intelligent driving assistance system (Metaverse Pilot). Top-tier configurations are equipped with LiDAR and the Horizon Journey J6B ADAS chip to support high-speed and urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA). The Beta S3 is available in plug-in charging variants and rapid battery-swapping variants. A automated battery swap at a compatible station takes just 99 seconds to unlock, remove, and replace the pack.
Pricing is heavily incentivised towards the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) swapping option, starting at just 59,800 yuan (US$8,200 or 7,700€) supplemented by a monthly battery rental fee of 599 yuan. The battery-owned pricing is 79,900 to 120,800 yuan. Main competitors are the BYD Seal 06, Nevo A07 and GAC Aion S Plus. The S3 has generated 30,000 orders within one month of pre-sales starting and is destined to great success.
Bar for success: 7,500 monthly sales
3. Onvo L80 (5,949 sales)
The L80 is the third model by NIO’s mainstream brand Onvo. It is a mid-to-large premium electric SUV, the two-row, five-seat variant of the larger three-row L90 and shares its underlying architecture and most of its body styling with it. To appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, the vehicle is built around extensive cargo access, featuring a wide-aperture, powered front hood. The L80 stands at 5,145 mm long, 1,998 mm wide and 1,766 mm high with a 3,110 mm wheelbase. The cabin features a premium wraparound dashboard layout available in four interior colour themes. It uses high-end materials, including ultra-fibre velvet headlinings, genuine floating wood trim, and “Galaxy Illusion” customisable ambient lighting.
The digital cockpit is spread across a 35-inch Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD) for safety information, a central 17.2-inch 3K infotainment screen, and an 8-inch screen dedicated to rear-row entertainment. The L80 boasts an unprecedented 2,840 litres of maximum storage, the largest of any 5-seat SUV in China. It includes 2,600 litres in the main boot with the second row folded completely flat ad a 240-litre powered front trunk with an 830 mm wide opening.
The RWD variant has a 340 kW electric motor and accelerates 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds while the AWD adds a 100 kW front motor for a 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. All trims use an 85 kWh ternary (NCM) battery pack. The RWD range is up to 605 km while the AWD range is up to 570 km. The L80 supports 600 kW ultra-fast charging, capable of replenishing 250 km of range in just 5 minutes. Crucially, it fully supports Nio’s automated battery swap network, allowing a full battery replacement in under three minutes at over 2,500 compatible stations across China.
Pricing for the full purchase option (battery included) is from 242,800 to 279,800 yuan (US$35,700-41,200 or 31,200-35,900€) but buyers who choose to rent the battery via subscription can drop the entry vehicle price down to a stunning 156,800 yuan (US$23,100 or 20,100€) plus a monthly battery rental fee. The Tesla Model Y is the L80’s primary target. Onvo undercuts the base Model Y’s retail price by roughly 17,700 yuan.The L80 is significantly larger, features 900V architecture (which Tesla lacks), boasts battery-swapping tech, and incorporates LiDAR-based autonomy. Tesla relies on its superior brand equity and global Supercharger reputation to push back. The Li Auto L7, Xpeng G9 and Denza N7 are other competitors. The L80 is already Onvo’s best-seller for its first month in market and should continue this way to be deemed a success.
Bar for success: 7,500 monthly sales
4. NIO ES9 (3,108 sales)
The ES9 is NIO’s ultimate flagship executive SUV. Built on the advanced NT 3.0 platform, it stands as the largest mass-produced pure electric SUV developed in China. Striking a distinct balance between a luxury family hauler and a chauffeured business lounge, it pulls high-end technology from NIO’s ultra-luxury ET9 sedan. The ES9 is 5,365 mm long, 2,029 mm wide and 1,870 mm high with a 3,250 mm wheelbase. Primarily offered in a 2+2+2 six-seat executive layout, the cabin features premium materials, including traditional Chinese landscape art-inspired Su embroidery (boasting nearly 400,000 stitches in a rivers-and-mountains motif) across higher-tier trims.
The interior highlight is the “Sky Island” executive cabin. The second row boasts zero-gravity seats with a continuous 2.3-meter cushion surface and a 42-point full-body massage system. It features liquid crystal (LC) smart dimming windows that tint dark in just 17 milliseconds for absolute privacy. A central “Executive Console” incorporates dual 16-inch screens, a high-definition video conferencing system, and a magnetic tea tray.
A dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces a combined 520 kW (697 hp) and 700 Nm of torque, catapulting this massive SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 220 km/h. The ES9 is equipped with the SkyRide 48V fully active air suspension, steer-by-wire technology, and rear-wheel steering—giving this 5.3-metre giant a nimble turning circle of just 10.9 metres. It utilises a 102 kWh CATL ternary lithium-ion battery pack, delivering a CLTC-rated pure-electric range between 580 km and 620 km depending on the configuration and wheel size. Built on a 900V high-voltage platform, it supports 5C ultra-fast charging (adding 255 km of range in 5 minutes via 600 kW hyperchargers). Crucially, it supports NIO’s third-generation network, allowing a full battery swap in under 3 minutes.
NIO undercuts traditional foreign luxury giants by offering its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) subscription model, which significantly slashes the upfront vehicle purchase cost by 108,000 yuan. Prices range from 498,000 to 628,000 yuan (US$69,000-87,000 or 64,000-80,700€) but are down to 390,000 to 520,000 with BaaS, with an additional monthly battery rental fee. The ES9 rules the ultra-premium, full-size new-energy SUV class, directly targeting the AITO M9, Li Auto L9 and imported legacy icons scubas the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS as well as flagship luxury EVs like the Mercedes EQS SUV and BMW iX.
Bar for success: 3,500 sales
5. WEY V9X (1,018 sales)
The WEY V9X is Great Wall Motor’s (GWM) flagship full-size luxury 6-seater SUV, representing a push into the ultra-premium “9-series” SUV segment in China. The V9X features a commanding, business-class silhouette that leans away from rugged off-roading and heavily into modern, streamlined luxury. It draws heavy inspiration from traditional Chinese architectural elements and is available in dual-tone paint schemes. The V9X is offered in two distinct body lengths to suit either families or executives: the standard wheelbase is 5,205 mm long with a 3,050 mm wheelbase and the long wheelbase (Executive Edition) is 5,299 mm long with a 3,150 mm wheelbase. The interior layout is 2+2+2, with the second row featuring premium independent captain’s chairs with heating, ventilation, built-in wireless phone charging pads on the doors, and a 7-litre thermal refrigerator box.
The dashboard features a 12.3-inch driver cluster, dual 17.3-inch infotainment and passenger entertainment touchscreens and a 29-inch smart Head-Up Display (SR-HUD). There is also a 21.4-inch 4K ceiling-mounted entertainment monitor for the rear rows. The initial launch centres on the PHEV setup, with BEV versions expected later. A 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine (175 kW / 235 hp) is paired with dual electric motors and a 4-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) sending power to all four wheels. Combined system output scales dramatically by variant, producing 684 to 738 hp. It achieves 0–100 km/h in a swift 4.4 to 4.6 seconds. The V9X is offered in three SVOLT battery capacities (55.4 kWh, 66.6 kWh, and 80 kWh), yielding a pure-electric range of 240 km to 470 km (CLTC). Combined with a full gas tank, total comprehensive range spans an incredible 1,343 km to 1,700 km.
The V9X is priced from 349,800 to 389,800 yuan (US$51,400-57,300 or 44,900-50,100€) and enters the heavily contested large, luxury three-row NEV segment in China, targeting premium buyers looking to split the difference between luxury SUVs and MPVs. It will compete with the likes of the Li Auto L9, AITO M9, Denza N9, BYD Great Tang, Zeekr 8X and IM LS9. This is new territory for the WEY brand so we will keep our expectations modest.
Bar for success: 3,000 monthly sales
6. Luxeed V9 (549 sales)
The Luxeed V9 is a premium, flagship full-size luxury MPV jointly developed by tech giant Huawei and automaker Chery under the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). Moving away from traditional, bulky MPV design tropes, it is engineered to act as a cutting-edge mobile office and luxury family lounge. The V9 moves away from the oversized, aggressive front grilles common on modern Chinese luxury minivans. It features a clean, fully enclosed front fascia, smooth geometric contours, and a streamlined silhouette designed to lower aerodynamic drag. The V9 is 5,359 mm long, 2,009 mm wide and 1,879 mm high with a 3,250 mm wheelbase.
The vehicle can be arranged in a premium 3-row, 7-seat (2+2+3) or executive 6-seat layouts. The second row can rotate 180 degrees backward to create a face-to-face conference/lounge room with the third row. The entire rear area can also fold into a flat “double bed mode.” In a mass-production first, the V9 features seat-integrated helmet airbags which automatically deploy from the headrests during a crash to encircle and protect the occupants’ heads and necks. The front dashboard features a panoramic triple-screen array (instrument cluster, central infotainment, and passenger screen), supplemented by dual 21.4-inch 3K screens for rear-row passengers.
The V9 is launched primarily as an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV), utilising a 1.5T engine as the range extender and dual electric motors, paired with a choice of two battery packs: a 37 kWh LFP battery for a pure electric range of 158 km and a 53.4 kWh Ternary Lithium battery for a pure electric range of 210-223 km. Combined with a full tank of gas, the EREV achieves a comprehensive cruising range of up to 1,250 to 1,320 km. The V9 is priced from 389,800 to 519,800 yuan (US$56,500-75,300 or 50,100-66,800€) and will compete with the likes of the Denza D9, Li Auto Mega, Zeekr 009 and Xpeng X9.
Bar for success: 2,500 monthly sales
7. Audi E7X (400 sales)
The AUDI brand, with a four-letter logo instead of the four-ring badge, is a cooperation with SAIC Motor that was launched last year and is developed specifically in China for China to target tech-savvy, younger buyers. AUDI’s first model was the E5 sportback which has been a complete failure. The pressure is on then for the E7X, a mid-to-large luxury electric crossover, to rectify the trajectory, and first month volumes are not encouraging. The E7X features a monolithic, coupe-like fastback crossover silhouette with short overhangs and a muscular, broad-shouldered stance. It is notably large—stretching over 5 meters long—giving it an imposing road presence that is slightly longer and wider than a standard Audi Q8. The front end features an innovative hidden lighting system: when turned on, more than 1,000 individual triangular LEDs glow straight through the body paint to form a striking signature.
The E7X is 5,049 mm long, 1,997 mm wide, 1,710 mm high with a 3,060 mm wheelbase. The interior strips away physical buttons, anchoring the cockpit around a massive 27-inch 4K panoramic curved infotainment touchscreen seamlessly blended alongside a 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster. The rear cabin experience is augmented by a 21.4-inch ceiling-mounted retractable cinema monitor. The E7X offers the Momenta ADAS Suite which enables advanced point-to-point urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) and fully automated scenario parking.
The E7X operates on a highly efficient 900V high-voltage electrical architecture utilising ternary NMC battery packs sourced from CATL. RWD variants have a 402 hp electric motor and AWD have dual electric motors for a combined 670 hp and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.9 seconds. Thanks to its 900V platform and 4C fast-charging compatibility, it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 13 minutes, adding roughly 429 km of driving range in a 10-minute flash charge.
Audi launched the E7X with aggressive, market-disrupting pricing to directly tackle domestic Chinese premium brands. It goes from 269,800 to 359,800 yuan (US$39,800-53,000 or 34,700-46,200€), with its primary competitive target being the Xiaomi YU7. While Xiaomi commands ecosystem loyalty and strong initial momentum in China, AUDI counters with a more sophisticated active suspension architecture, a more executive-focused rear cabin (including that massive 21.4-inch drop-down screen), and legacy German manufacturing pedigree. Other competitors include the NIO EL7, Onvo L80 and Porsche Macan Electric.
Bar for success: 5,000 monthly sales
8. Xpeng GX (270 sales)
The GX is Xpeng’s new flagship full-size SUV, marking the brand’s entry into the luxury three-row market, packing unprecedented processing power and an advanced steer-by-wire chassis. The GX features an undeniable “Range Rover-esque” road presence. It embraces a stately, boxy, and minimalistic design language with an upright front fascia, a high hood line, and distinctively slanted A and B-pillars. The side profile includes sleek retractable door handles. The rear features an executive split-opening tailgate and a clean, single full-width upper LED light bar. The GX comes in at 5,265 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, 1,800 mm high with a 3,115 mm wheelbase.
The vehicle is offered in a luxury 6-seat (2+2+2) layout. The digital cabin skips clutter for crisp screen real estate, powered by XPeng’s proprietary software and includes a 17.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen, 8.8-inch driver digital instrument cluster, 88-inch high-definition Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD) and 21.4-inch ceiling-mounted drop-down entertainment monitor for rear passengers. The GX rides on an advanced chassis featuring Bosch steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technology, a dual-chamber active air suspension, and rear-wheel steering (7.5° angle normally, ramping to 10° for automated parking), giving it a tight, hatchback-like turning circle.
It is sold in two distinct powertrain variants. First as a BEV supporting 5C fast charging (10% to 80% in 12 minutes) with RWD (635-665 km range) or AWD (720-750 km range and 0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds). Second as an EREV using a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine as a generator. The GX is priced from 279,800 to 329,800 yuan (US$41,060-48,395 or 35,950-42,400€) and will compete with the likes of the Li Auto L9, AITO M9, NIO ES9 and Denza N9. The GX received 24,863 firm orders within 12 hours of entering the market, so we are looking at a solid performance for the brand’s new flagship.
Bar for success: 4,000 monthly sales
9. Smart #6 (133 sales)
The #6 is the first ever sedan from the Smart brand, now a Geely Mercedes joint venture. Rather than going pure electric right away, it uniquely debuts with a long-range plug-in hybrid powertrain. The #6 features an elegant, low-slung, “neo-retro” fastback liftback silhouette that measures nearly 4.9 meters long. It comes at exactly 4,906 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, 1,508 mm high with a wheelbase of 2,926 mm (larger than a standard BMW 3-Series). It abandons aggressive angular lines for smooth, aerodynamic curves, giving it a majestic road presence—earning it the official brand mascot of a “shark.”
The interior mirrors the rugged luxury of the Smart #5 but adapts it into a sleeker, lower-profile executive cabin. The dashboard boasts a fully digital driver instrument cluster and dual 13-inch OLED screens seamlessly spanning the centre console over to the front passenger side. The #6 utilises Geely’s high-efficiency NordThor Hybrid (EHD) powertrain, with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup paired with a Mercedes-tuned chassis and premium ZF steering. A 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 120 kW (161 hp) is paired with a 200 kW (268 hp) electric motor integrated into a 3-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) for a combined output of 429 hp.
Smart offers two lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery variants: a 20 kWh pack (SVOLT) for 110–135 km pure electric range (CLTC) or a 41.5 kWh pack (CATL) for up to 285 km pure electric range (CLTC). Combined with a full tank of gas, it reaches 1,810 km of total cruising range, with a fuel economy of roughly 3.9L/100km. The #6 is priced from 177,900 to 217,900 yuan (US$24,500 to $30,000 or 22,900-28,000€) and enters a very competitive premium segment. It will compete with the likes of the BYD Han, BYD Seal 07, Deepal L07, Nevo A07, Zeekr 007 and Xiaomi SU7. Smart has struggled to raise interest with Chinese buyers so far, and the #6 doesn’t seem to have what it takes to reverse the trend.
Bar for success: 2,500 monthly sales
Other models launched in May are the Volvo ES90 (23 sales), Volvo EX90 (20 sales) and MG 4X (1 sale).
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