Drive.com
CHINESE brands are no longer fringe players in Australia’s new-car market, they are now driving some of the industry’s biggest growth stories.
Brands like BYD, GWM, Chery and Geely are rapidly expanding their market share, while others such as MG, JAC and LDV are finding conditions far tougher in 2026.
Leading the charge is BYD, which has surged 110.8 per cent year-on-year to 25,243 sales, briefly becoming Australia’s second-best-selling automotive brand last month.
Its standout performer is the BYD Sealion 7, with 6248 sales so far this year, making it one of Australia’s most popular electric vehicles and placing it close behind the Tesla Model Y.
The company’s broader line-up, including the BYD Dolphin, BYD Atto 3 and BYD Seal, has also contributed strongly, while newer arrivals like the Atto 1, Atto 2 and Sealion range continue to expand its footprint.
Premium offshoot Denza has also made a surprisingly strong start, recording 1131 sales in just four months. The Denza B5 has emerged as its hero model, outselling even some established luxury rivals.
Meanwhile, Chery has grown sales by 92.4 per cent thanks largely to the popularity of the Chery Tiggo 4, which has become Australia’s best-selling small SUV with more than 9000 sales already this year.
One of the biggest percentage gainers is Geely, which is up 842.8 per cent year-on-year. Although starting from a low base, the company’s two-model line-up has found momentum through the Geely EX5 and Geely Starray.
GWM also continues its steady rise, recording nearly 20,000 sales this year so far. Popularity remains strongest for the GWM Haval Jolion, GWM Haval H6 and the Cannon ute range.
Newer entrants are also beginning to make an impression. Zeekr posted a dramatic 955 per cent sales increase after launching the Zeekr 7X, while Leapmotor has seen growth thanks to its B10 electric SUV.
However, not every Chinese marque is succeeding in the crowded Australian market.
MG, once the dominant Chinese brand locally, has slipped 1.6 per cent this year despite expanding its range with vehicles such as the MG QS, MG U9 and MG S5 EV.
JAC has struggled even more sharply, with sales down 55.2 per cent for its lone JAC T9.
