Global Electric Vehicle Sales Top 15, Chinese Brands Dominate 11 Spots, First One Far Ahead.

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According to the latest data from CleanTechnica, global electric vehicle sales in August increased by 60% year-on-year to about 850,000 units. In terms of market share, the sales of new energy vehicles worldwide in August accounted for 15% of the global total vehicle sales, with pure electric vehicles making up 11%. Compared to the 47% increase for plug-in hybrid vehicles, the sales of pure electric vehicles led with a 66% year-on-year increase. Without delving into the overall data, today we’ll talk about which vehicles make up the latest Top 15 in global electric vehicle sales.

1st, 3rd Place: Tesla Model Y, Model 3

The Model Y, which hasn’t had a major upgrade for many years, still holds strong with a monthly sales figure of 115,885 units, leading the list. The refreshed Model 3 also had good sales. Although these two models have always been compared, they have not been surpassed, much like the Highlander back in the day. However, it can be seen that BYD’s momentum is quite strong, and there might be a chance that it could surpass Tesla in the future. Nevertheless, whenever Tesla launches something new, competitors often fall behind, and there’s keen anticipation for the market performance of Model 2.

2nd, 4th-7th, 9th Place: BYD Song, Qin Plus, Seagull, Yuan PLUS, Dolphin, Han

This data combines the EV and PHEV statistics for each model, so there is no specific sales data for plug-in hybrids and pure electric models. Even so, BYD has six models on the list, which proves its sales strength. With the release of more champion models and some year-end promotions, sales are expected to rise slightly in the later period. Currently, BYD indeed represents a significant presence of China in the global automotive market.

8th, 10th Place: AION Y, AION S

Apart from BYD, GAC Aion also has strong momentum, with both Aion Y and Aion S making it into the global top ten in sales. Some netizens might attribute Aion’s good sales to the ride-hailing market, but looking at the ride-hailing market, it is now saturated or even oversupplied. So the stable sales of these two models also depend on the support of regular users. Furthermore, Aion’s widespread use in the ride-hailing market indicates its quality is well-recognized, which is a good indicator for consumers.

11th, 13th Place: Volkswagen ID.4, ID.3

Compared to its performance in China, Volkswagen ID.4 has significantly better sales in its native Europe, with Germany, the UK, Norway, and Sweden being its primary markets. Previously, ID.3 faced criticism from consumers abroad because it starts at 40,000 euros (around 32.23 million RMB) in Germany but is sold for only 16,000 euros (around 12.9 million RMB) in China. The nearly identical vehicles are sold at a 60% discount in China, which naturally infuriated Germans. The bottom line is that all suppliers of ID.3 are from China, and shorter transportation routes and lower production costs result in lower prices, leaving foreigners with no choice but to accept the price disparity.

12th, 14th Place: Wuling Hongguang MINI EV, Wuling Bingo

With its cheap price, decent space, usable configuration, and range, Wuling Hongguang MINI EV had a strong start in the micro electric vehicle market. However, as competition increases, its sales are gradually declining. It remains to be seen what differentiating factors it will bring in the future. Wuling Bingo, on the other hand, has won the favor of many female users with its cute design and has received some orders overseas, although the bulk of sales are still in the Chinese market. It will be interesting to see how it will strategize moving forward.

15th Place: Lixiang L7

Lixiang L7 also made it onto the list and is the only model from Lixiang to enter the global sales Top 15. The reason is clear: attractive and durable design, rich configuration, luxurious feel, ample space, and no range anxiety with its hybrid capabilities. Initially criticized for its range-extender powertrain, it has now become a consumer favorite. With rising oil prices, users can choose to drive on electricity alone, and for long trips, they don’t have to worry about the absence of charging stations or waiting in queues. It’s a product for all scenarios, and it’s not overly expensive. However, Lixiang now needs to address the lack of a high-efficiency engine in its cars, as the fuel efficiency during charge-sustaining mode is hard to improve. Moreover, range-extended electric vehicles might be excluded from the new energy vehicle category in the future. Lixiang needs to carefully consider its path forward to maintain its current momentum.