One million units in two years: the insane success of this Chinese electric car.

By the time you read this article, Geely will have sold some units of its star model, the Xingyuan. It remains the best-selling car in China and has just arrived in France under the name E2.

Paradoxically, in a market increasingly interested in larger vehicles, the best-selling car for several years now has been a small electric city car. Different models have emerged over time, driven by trends and innovations. For the past two years, the champion has come from Geely’s lineup — it is called the Xingyuan.

The first electric car to become the best-selling vehicle in China was the Hongguang Mini EV. Copied by many, it was quickly overtaken by the BYD Seagull, which was only slightly more expensive but larger in size. The same pattern repeated in 2024 with the launch of the Xingyuan. With this model, Geely offers a vehicle with a less extreme design than the Seagull, similar road performance, but better interior space.

In its first full year on the market, it became the best-selling car in the world’s largest market: 465,775 units were sold in 2025. In 2026, it remained the top seller but with declining sales volume. With 310,391 units sold in the first nine months, it is expected to close the year at around 400,000 units. The Chinese market is currently declining, and competition has intensified. BYD has recently unveiled the new Seagull, which is larger than the Xingyuan and better equipped, but at a similar price point.

For Geely, one million units have already left the assembly lines in roughly two years since its launch on October 9, 2024. That’s about one unit per minute! The journey doesn’t stop there, as the Geely sedan is now available in many regions around the world: Asia, Australia, Latin America, and so on. And of course in Europe, where it serves as the flagship model for the Geely brand.

It has just begun its journey in France under the name E2, with a competitive starting price of 20,990 €.

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