Zeekr premium EV. Source: Geely Auto
Export-Driven Growth: 85,144 Units to 112 Markets
Geely Auto Group reported total May 2026 sales of 237,637 units, up 1.03% year-on-year and 1.05% month-on-month, according to CnEVPost’s analysis of Geely’s monthly filing. The January-May cumulative total reached 1,182,159 units, up 0.77% year-on-year.
The headline figure masks a sharp domestic-versus-export divergence. Exports reached a record 85,144 units, surging 183.65% year-on-year, while domestic sales fell to 152,493 units, down 25.68%, according to the same Geely sales data cited by CnEVPost. Exports now account for about 35.8% of total volume, up from roughly 13% a year ago, with Geely’s overseas footprint spanning 112 markets.
Zeekr Sets New Record: 34,377 Units with 82% Growth
Zeekr, Geely’s premium EV brand, delivered 34,377 vehicles in May, an all-time monthly record representing 81.81% year-on-year growth, according to Geely’s filing summarized by CnEVPost. The brand’s premium positioning is evident in the average transaction price, which rose 52.4% year-on-year, while the Zeekr 9-series and 8-series accounted for nearly 50% of total deliveries.
Zeekr cumulative deliveries have surpassed 750,000 units globally as of April 2026. The brand recently launched the Zeekr 001 Five-Year Anniversary Edition, revisiting the limited-sale model that established Zeekr’s market presence at a starting price of 362,800 yuan.
Geely Auto May 2026 Sales by Brand
| Brand | May 2026 | YoY Change | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geely main brand | 182,528 | -3.26% | Core brand | CnEVPost / Geely filing |
| Zeekr | 34,377 | +81.81% | Monthly record | EL7 AI / Geely data |
| Lynk & Co | 20,732 | -24.97% | Model transition | CnEVPost / Geely filing |
| Geely Galaxy | 81,727 | -19.75% | Fifth monthly decline | CnEVPost / Geely filing |
| Total group | 237,637 | +1.03% | Export-led growth | CnEVPost / Geely filing |
Powertrain Shift: PHEVs Rise, BEVs Dip
Geely’s May sales data reveal a powertrain preference shift: battery electric vehicle sales fell 19.37% year-on-year to 76,633 units, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales surged 31.97% to 56,722 units, according to the Geely filing figures reported by CnEVPost. The trend mirrors the broader Chinese market where PHEVs are gaining share against pure BEVs because they reduce range anxiety and can lower upfront costs.
Geely Galaxy, which had been a strong domestic growth engine, recorded its fifth consecutive month of year-on-year sales decline at 81,727 units, down 19.75%. The Galaxy Xingyao 7 MAX launched in late May at 98,800 yuan with standard all-wheel drive aims to reverse this trajectory. Geely’s 2026 ambition to launch 17 new models across five brands continues to guide its product offensive.
Geely’s Export Strategy and World Cup Partnership
Geely Galaxy’s sponsorship of the 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcast represents a major global branding play, aligning the Geely name with one of the world’s most-watched sporting events. Combined with record export volumes, the strategy positions Geely to become one of the most internationally recognized Chinese automotive brands.
In April 2026, Geely Auto sales reached 235,000 units, while overseas and NEV volume continued to define the group’s growth story, according to Gasgoo’s April sales report. That makes May’s export record less of a one-off spike and more of a sign that Geely’s multi-brand global channel buildout is now feeding monthly volume.
