The global electric vehicle market kicked off 2026 with impressive momentum, as two of China’s leading EV manufacturers, NIO and XPeng, reported January delivery figures alongside major technological and international milestones.
NIO Inc. delivered 27,182 vehicles in January 2026, marking a remarkable 96.1% year-over-year increase. The performance highlights the growing strength of NIO’s multi-brand strategy. Of the total deliveries, 20,894 vehicles came from NIO’s premium smart EV lineup, 3,481 vehicles from its family-oriented brand ONVO, and 2,807 vehicles from the compact high-end FIREFLY brand. With this result, NIO’s cumulative deliveries surpassed 1 million units, reaching 1,024,774 vehicles by the end of January — a major milestone for the company.
Beyond sales, NIO continued to push forward on software and intelligent driving innovation. In late January, the company released the latest version of its NIO WorldModel (NWM), which is already being rolled out to more than 460,000 vehicles equipped with the Banyan system. The update introduces full closed-loop reinforcement learning for assisted and intelligent driving, enhancing performance in both urban and highway environments. Smart parking and active safety systems were also refined, delivering smoother operation and an improved overall user experience. Looking ahead, NIO reaffirmed its commitment to advancing smart EV technologies while further expanding its battery swapping and charging infrastructure.
Meanwhile, XPeng delivered 20,011 vehicles in January 2026, down 34.07% year-on-year.
According to the company, these deliveries are expected to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 300,000 tons, an environmental impact comparable to the carbon absorption of 4.94 million tree seedlings over ten years.
XPeng’s global ambitions were also on full display. The company launched the XPENG P7+ simultaneously in 36 countries, with its European debut taking place at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show.
By the end of 2025, XPeng had expanded its presence to 60 countries and regions, supported by a rapidly growing international sales network. Overseas, the company now operates 380 physical stores, representing a year-over-year increase of more than 150%, while its global sales and service footprint has surpassed 1,000 outlets.
