By Al Root

Shares of NIO and XPeng started the month with a bang. Li Auto stock even got a tiny boost despite falling delivery numbers.

Combined, the three Chinese EV makers delivered 103,213 cars in May, up 6% year over year.

Delivery growth in is good. Any sign of stability in the world's largest market for new cars and new EVs is welcome. Things haven't been going well so far in 2026. Overall, new car sales in China dipped about 7% in the first quarter, according to data tracked by Citi analyst Jeff Chung.

XPeng reported vehicle deliveries of 32,158 in May, up 4% month over month and down 4% year over year.

XPeng stock was up 6.2% in overseas trading. S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 0.3% and 0.5%, respectively.

XPeng's second-quarter delivery guidance of about 103,000 vehicles implies about 40,000 sold in June, up 15% year over year for the month.

Monday's gains leave XPeng shares down 11% over the past 12 months, so expectations weren't too high heading into the report.

NIO's numbers look even stronger. NIO delivered 37,705 vehicles in May, up 28% month over month and 62% year over year.

NIO stock was up 6.7% in overseas trading. Investors have been encouraged by its rebound in growth. With those gains, shares are up 61% over the past 12 months.

NIO's May number leaves about 45,000 cars in June to hit the second-quarter delivery guidance of 112,500 EVs sold. That would be more than 80% up year over year.

Li Auto delivered 33,350 vehicles in May, down 2% month over month and down 6% year over year. May's number leaves about 30,000 cars in June for the company to hit the second-quarter guidance of about 97,500 vehicles. That June figure would be down 17% year over year.

Declining sales have hit Li's stock. It was up 1.2% in overseas trading, but the modest gain left shares down 48% over the past 12 months.

Write to Al Root at allen.root@dowjones.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 01, 2026 08:46 ET (12:46 GMT)

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