BYD’s new luxury brand Yangwang is selling its first model, the U8, for more than 1 million yuan (US$160,000).
CNBC | Evelyn Cheng
BEIJING — BYD has overtaken Tesla again by the sheer number of new energy vehicles produced in 2023, thanks in part to the Chinese automaker’s hybrids and wide range of offerings in a lower price range.
While Tesla’s Model Y was the best-selling purely battery-powered car in China for the six months ending in November, BYD vehicles accounted for four of the top 10 such cars sold during that time. When including hybrids, seven BYD cars made the top 10 list.
That’s according to China Passenger Car Association data cited by consumer information site Autohome.
Here are the five best-selling BYD new energy vehicles in China, according to the data:
1. Qin Plus
SHENYANG, CHINA – APRIL 01: A BYD Qin Plus DM-i sedan is on display during the Shenyang Auto Show at Shenyang International Exhibition Center on April 1, 2023 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
The Qin Plus, BYD’s bestseller — the top-ranked across all new energy vehicles in China — sold nearly 400 more units than Tesla’s Model Y in the six months ending in November.
The compact car comes in hybrid and battery-only versions. It’s part of BYD’s legacy series of cars named after Chinese dynasties. Qin Shihuang was the first leader of a unified China and known for his terracotta warrior burial site.
Price: 99,800 yuan to 176,800 yuan ($13,942 to $24,700)
Range: 420 km to 610 km (261 miles to 379 miles)
For comparison, the Model Y has a driving range of 532 km to 688 km and currently sells for between 266,400 yuan to 363,900 yuan ($37,217 to $50,838) in China.
2. Seagull
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 18: A BYD Seagull small electric car is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
The Seagull is a budget-priced boxy hatchback that BYD launched less than a year ago in spring 2023. The battery-only car comes in neon yellow-green, peach, black and white.
Price: 73,800 yuan to 89,800 yuan ($10,310 to $12,545)
Range: 305 km to 405 km (189 miles to 251 miles)
3. Song Plus NEV
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 18: A BYD Song PLUS DM-i SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
In third place among BYD bestsellers is the Song Plus, a compact SUV that comes in hybrid and battery-only versions.
Price: 159,800 yuan to 209,800 yuan ($22,325 to $29,310)
Range: 520 km to 605 km (323 miles to 375 miles)
4. Yuan Plus
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 18: A BYD Yuan PLUS electric SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
BYD’s Yuan Plus is a compact, battery-only SUV. During the six-month period ended in November, it sold nearly 17,000 more units than the Aion Y, a best-selling electric car from state-owned GAC Motor’s spinoff brand.
Price: 135,800 yuan to 163,800 yuan ($18,972 to $22,883)
Range: 430 km to 510 km (267 miles to 316 miles)
5. Dolphin
A BYD Co. Dolphin compact electric vehicle during a test drive in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2023. BYD, the Warren Buffett-backed clean car giant, has sold 1.5 million fully-electric and hybrid passenger vehicles this year through July, half way to its annual target. Photographer: Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
BYD’s small Dolphin electric car is another one of the company’s mass market vehicles that comes with the internally developed blade battery.
Price: 116,800 yuan to 139,800 yuan ($16,317 to $19,530)
Range: 401 km to 420 km (249 miles to 260 miles)
Read more about electric vehicles, batteries and chips from CNBC Pro
The blade battery helped spur BYD’s first flagship electric car, the Han sedan, to popularity.
The Han is more expensive than most of BYD’s other cars with a starting price of 209,800 yuan ($29,310) for the battery-only version.
While most of the company’s vehicles cost less, BYD last year also ventured into the high-end of the market with its Yangwang U8, with a starting price of more than 1 million yuan ($140,090).
Chinese electric car startups Nio and Xpeng have both said they are planning to launch mass market brands later this year. Tesla has not yet made such announcements.