BYD’s Five-Car Takeover: Analyzing China’s 2025 EV Sales vs. Fading Legacy ICE Dominance

Is the Legacy Auto ICE Era Truly Over? Analyzing China’s November 2025 Sales Chasm

What does it take for a single Chinese automaker to completely dominate a segment, while Japanese rivals cling to the last vestiges of an aging technology? As Western OEMs grapple with high costs and slow transitions, November 2025 sales data from China reveal a market bifurcated: an unstoppable surge in New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) led by BYD, and a sputtering, yet strangely stable, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) segment anchored by familiar Japanese names. This piece breaks down the numbers and what they mean for the global automotive landscape.

The Unstoppable Force: BYD’s NEV Supremacy

The story of the Chinese EV market in November 2025 is a story about BYD. While the overall Chinese passenger vehicle market saw a slight contraction year-on-year, the NEV sector continues its structural shift, already surpassing ICE vehicles as the primary growth engine of the industry.

BYD’s success wasn’t just a headline grab; it was a total portfolio conquest. According to the provided data, a staggering five BYD models—the Seagull, Qin Plus, Yuan, Sea Lion 06, and Dolphin—all secured spots in the top ten NEV models, collectively selling over 197,000 units.

• Model Volume King: The Wuling Hongguang MiNi EV still topped the charts overall with 53,581 units, showing the endurance of the budget micro-EV segment.
• BYD’s Multi-Pronged Attack: Having five models in the top ten proves BYD’s strategy of deep segmentation is highly effective, covering budget (Seagull), family sedan (Qin Plus), compact SUV (Yuan), and more.
• Global Context: This domestic dominance mirrors BYD’s surging international ambition. The company set a new passenger car export record in November, shipping over 131,935 NEVs overseas, a year-over-year increase of over 326%. This signals that the ‘New Operating Model’ of Chinese OEMs—faster development and lower costs—is now targeting global market share.

The ICE Sunset: Japanese Resilience vs. German Stability

If BYD represents the future, the ICE top ten is a testament to the past, where Japanese brands still command the top spots, though domestic Chinese brands are clearly rising.

The battle for the ICE crown in November saw the legacy players trading blows:

• Nissan Sylphy Leads the Pack: The Nissan Sylphy secured the #1 spot for ICE models with 33,254 units, reinforcing its position as a benchmark for traditional sedans.
• German Contenders: Volkswagen maintained a strong presence with four models in the top ten, including the Sagitar, indicating the continued competitive edge of established German engineering in this segment.
• Domestic Uprising: Chinese brands placed four models in the top ten, showing they are aggressively expanding their presence beyond NEVs, with Geely being particularly strong.

Analyst Insight for Western Readers: This data confirms a painful reality for Detroit and Wolfsburg: the ICE segment is mature and largely stagnant, with sales slipping overall. Legacy foreign brands rely on well-established but aging portfolios, while Chinese players chip away at their base. For Western investors, this means any non-NEV volume gain by a Japanese or German brand is likely a short-term defensive win, not a sign of renewed long-term growth.

Why This Matters to the Global Investor

The divergence between the two lists is the clearest signal yet of a structural pivot. While NEV sales are projected to hit 15.5 million units in 2025, growing 20% year-on-year, the ICE segment is simply holding ground.

Key takeaways for monitoring the shift:

• PHEV/EREV Acceleration: The rise of PHEVs/EREVs is a proven trend in China, often favored during infrastructure transitions, and BYD’s balanced BEV/PHEV portfolio capitalizes on this perfectly.
• Innovation Over Price: While price wars continue, the market is increasingly rewarding technological innovation, where Chinese OEMs currently lead, forcing Western rivals to play catch-up.
• Localization as Defense: Western tariffs, like those imposed by the EU, may encourage Chinese brands to build locally, but the cost advantage of manufacturing in China remains significant.

For a deeper dive into how Chinese EV firms are leapfrogging Western technology, See our analysis on China’s ‘New Operating Model’ and its global implications. The competitive environment has fundamentally changed, with Chinese brands now setting the pace for speed and cost efficiency.

Recommended Reading for Auto Analysts

To truly understand the operational agility driving this shift, we recommend reading ‘The New Operating Model: How Chinese Automakers Are Redefining Speed and Efficiency’ (Fictional, but relevant to the market trends cited).