(Yicai) Sept. 1 -- Many Chinese new energy vehicle makers notched impressive sales last month amid fierce price competition in the sector, per sales data the firms released today.

GAC Aion delivered 52,057 units in August, following strong months in June and July as well, and the company said it aims to sell 550,000 vehicles this year. It is also planning to hike capacity, it said.

Li Auto delivered 34,914 units last month, up 663.8 percent from a year ago. Nio delivered 19,329 vehicles in August, up 81 percent from the same period last year. Xpeng Motors delivered 13,690 new vehicles, up 43 percent, exceeding 10,000 units for the second straight month. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group-backed Zeekr delivered 12,303 units last month, up 71.7 percent. 

Some automakers fared less well, and reported a decline in sales last month. Hozon, also known as Neta Auto, delivered 12,103 units, down 24.5 percent from a year earlier. Leapmotor delivered 14,190 units last month, down 13.3 percent. Seres, which cooperates with Huawei Technologies, sold 6,243 vehicles last month, down 57.37 percent.

This year marks the first summer vacation in which people have been free to travel after three years of Covid lockdown since 2020, so people have been eager to head out on the road in their cars, the China Passenger Car Association said. Many families chose to buy or replace their cars to go on driving holidays, which boosted automobile consumption, the CPCA noted, adding that various promotions and the issuance of consumption coupons have also boosted sales.

Editor: Tom Litting