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BEVs represented over a third of the total Chinese car market in August.
We saw plugins score another million-plus sales in August (in a 2-million-unit overall market, up 5% YoY), but growth has been slowing down, with August showing just an 8% increase over August 2024.
Digging deeper into the numbers, BEVs continued to grow, going up by 17% to 686,000 units, or 34% of overall sales. PHEVs were down again, this time by 7% YoY, to 314,000 units. EREVS were stable, at 100,000 units. Plugins therefore achieved 55% market share.
Have we reached a turning point in PHEV adoption? To be continued…
This pulls the year-to-date (YTD) tally to over 7.6 million units. So, we should see plugins end the year above 10 million units — in China alone….
This result in August pulled the 2025 share to 55%. BEV share of the market rose to 34%. Expect to see plugins continue to grow its share in the following months. For now, plugins have 51% of the total auto market this year (32% just for BEVs), which means that most new cars sold in China this year have a plug!
(Could China reach 55% plugin vehicle share by year end?)
Regarding EV exports, in August, there were 204,000 EVs exported from China, up 103% YoY. They represented 41% of the total number of passenger cars exported from China, which means that exports are less electrified than domestic sales.
This means that Chinese OEMs are flexible and follow the slower EV adoption pace of export markets, which, come to think of it, is kind of ironic. We hear some people with power say that, if we delay EV adoption, we save the local automotive industry, because the Chinese won’t come and steal their cake….
In the overall ranking, in August, fully fossil-fueled models had just two representatives in the top 10. The best placed was the Nissan Sylphy in 5th, a surprisingly good standing for the compact sedan, which actually grew in sales by 16% YoY. Nissan had another positive month, so there is still hope for the Japanese carmaker in China, but more on that later.
With the other 100% ICE model (the Volkswagen Lavida) closing out the top 10, I believe it will be only a matter of time before we have just one pure ICE representative in the table. But it seems that getting rid of the Nissan sedan won’t be easy….
Looking at the best sellers in several size categories, all but the C segment (compact cars) have plugins leading the way. In fact, the C segment is the only segment where ICE models still have representatives.
Considering the feedback on my previous China EV sales report, I have changed the segmentation of a few models, including the BYD Qin Plus, which went from the D segment to the C segment.
In all other categories, ICE models were absent. This is a recurring theme. So, it seems that the C segment is the hardest of all to convert into EVs.
Looking at individual models, the biggest surprise was the podium for the full size category. On one hand, Xiaomi’s SU7 sports sedan was beaten by the AITO M8, with the big SUV winning the category title in August. On the other hand, Xiaomi had its new baby, the Ferrari-looking YU7 crossover, reach the category podium, thanks to 16,548 units in only its 3rd month on the market. I bet it won’t be long before the YU7 will become the new leader in this category
Another topic to highlight is the rise and rise of the Geely Xingyuan, which is now selling more than its direct competitors, the BYD Seagull and Yuan Up … together!
Here’s more info and commentary on August’s top selling electric models:
#1 — Geely Geome Xingyuan
Geely has struck gold with this one. After a number of failed attempts to launch models that would stay in the best sellers table (Galaxy L6, Galaxy E5, etc.), the Hangzhou make finally found the winning formula to not only beat BYD, but also win the leadership race in the fierce Chinese automotive market. With BYD owning most of the market segments, thanks to multiple popular models, the little Xingyuan profited from the fact that BYD was underrepresented in the lower segments, which had left a space between the A to B segment Seagull and the B to C segment Dolphin. With pricing and specs closer to the Seagull, but with an interior space and quality closer to the Dolphin, the small Geely carved out a space of its own, which has been expanding in every passing month. This August, the small hatchback stayed in the leadership spot, managing once again to continue in record mode (for the eighth month in a row!) thanks to a best ever score of 46,057 units. Starting with an 80,000 CNY (+/-$11,000) price, the buyer gets a 30 kWh LFP battery from CATL, which is nothing to write home about until you realize that its price is closer to the BYD Seagull’s (70,000 CNY for the 30 kWh version) than the BYD Dolphin’s (100,000 CNY). Exports? Surely that must be on the cards. But first Geely will need to finish the production ramp-up and satisfy its own internal market.
#2 — Tesla Model Y
Last year’s silver medalist had an okay month in August, dropping just 13% YoY to 39,413 deliveries, but still allowing it a podium position. With the longer, 6-seat “L” version just landing, Tesla is trying to stop the sales bleed. Will it be able to go back to the good old days? Unless Elon has a trick up his sleeve, I very much doubt it, especially with new competition like the Xiaomi YU7 and others like it. The YU7 got hundreds of thousands of locked-in orders within hours. Those orders have to come from somewhere, and with the market already at 50% share, it won’t be just from ICE models…. Yep, Tesla, but also BYD, will suffer.
#3 — Wuling HongGuang Mini EV
This tiny EV is taking full profit from its generation change, which happened late last year. It is now back among the top sellers, and in August it collected 37,828 registrations, a significant 43% increase year-on-year. Thanks to a more rounded design, which kind of reminds me of the face of a Panda, and upgraded specs and interiors, SAIC’s smallest hatchback has lost its barebones feel. It now looks more car-like. Wuling even offers a five-door version! Despite all of this, the price hasn’t increased that much, with SAIC’s star model starting at $5,500.
#4 — BYD Qin Plus (BEV+PHEV)
The old dog once again joined the top 5 in August, thanks to 35,800 registrations, a rather meritworthy performance, despite being down by a significant 16% YoY. After all, in the same period, its brother in arms, the Song, was down by … 52%! Back to the Qin’s performance, this volume meant that it was the best selling sedan in China, all powertrains counted. The 7-year-old body might be showing some wrinkles, but the low prices still provide significant demand for the sedan. The question is — for how long? To make matters worse, it doesn’t look like its offspring are able to fill the gaps that the Qin Plus is leaving (in August, the Qin L was down by 29% YoY and the Seal 06 was down by 17%).
#5 — BYD Seal 06 (BEV+PHEV)
BYD’s midsize sedan scored 27,414 registrations, which was a 17% drop YoY. As the sexier sibling of the more conservative Qin L, the volumes of both models counted together (over 52,000 units) represent a relevant portion of the midsize sedan market, but on the other hand, both nameplates are down significantly this year. A competitive price can only get you so far. With an increasingly competitive market, both BYD models are on a descending curve. Temporary setback? Time will tell.
Looking at the rest of the best seller table, one highlight in the BYD stable is the new Sealion 06 crossover, jumping into the table at #7 with over 25,000 registrations. Perhaps not coincidentally, both the Song (-52% YoY) and Song L (-33% YoY) had harsh drops, while in the lower segments, the Seagull had a surprising crash, with its sales falling by 51% YoY! In the compact class, the Yuan Plus also crashed, falling 56% YoY to fewer than 12,000 registrations. On the positive side, the BYD Seal 05 joined the table at #19 thanks to 13,495 registrations, a new record for the refreshed model, previously known as the Destroyer 05.
Elsewhere, in August, we have two fresh faces (the Haval Raptor and Xiaomi YU7), and another that doesn’t come by often (Leapmotor C10).
The presence of Great Wall’s Haval Raptor was no doubt the most surprising presence on the table this month, with the rugged midsize SUV debuting in the top 20 thanks to a record 17,522 registrations. Is it a one-time thing, or will we see this handsome brute again?
While the Raptor’s presence was the most surprising, the YU7’s is the most significant. With Xiaomi’s sporty crossover joining the table in only its 3rd month on the market, one wonders how high it will go once production is fully ramped up. The #1 spot in China is definitely a possibility for the YU7.
Finally, there’s Leapmotor’s midsize crossover, the C10. With the startup producing a seemingly never-ending streak of competitive, value-for-money-focused vehicles, it was only a question of time until they started appearing on the table. Benefiting from a recent refresh, the C10 got enough momentum to reach the #20 position, thanks to 13,384 registrations. And something tells me this won’t be the last Leapmotor on the table….
… Because outside the top 20, we have the recently introduced Leapmotor B01 compact sedan, scoring 10,171 registrations in only its 3rd month on the market. So, this could be another major seller for the Hangzhou startup.
Besides the Leapmotor sedan, a few other recently introduced models are ramping up production.
Onvo, NIO’s mainstream brand, has thrown everything and the kitchen sink into its new L90 three-row, full-size SUV, including a killer price ($37,000). This is the model that could save or break Onvo, and with it, NIO. And, for now, things are looking good, having landed with 10,575 units, one of the best landings ever. This is one of the models to keep a close eye on in the coming months.
Elsewhere, in a rare bright spot for foreign brands, the ramp-up of the Nissan N7 midsize sedan continues, scoring a significant 10,148 registrations, its first five digit performance. This is a good sign for Nissan’s fortunes in China, even if the model is based on a Dongfeng platform. This could be one path for the future of foreign OEMs in China — using local platforms to develop their new EVs, and at the same time learning and closing the gap they have compared to the local OEMs.
Regarding domestic legacy OEMs, one highlight was the Chery Fulwin A9L, with the rather attractive full-size plugin hybrid sedan scoring 10,243 registrations in its full sales month. Meanwhile, in the Geely stable, the Galaxy A7, the make’s new attempt to beat BYD’s midsize sedans, started on the right foot wheel by scoring 12,078 registrations in its first full month.
But, for some to go up, others have to come down. Two examples of models that have seen better days are the Wuling Bingo, which is down 46% YoY, to 12,078 registrations, and the Li Xiang L6, down an astonishing 55% YoY. The L6 is suffering from changing customer tastes — it seems that PHEVs aren’t cool anymore — and also the imminent arrival of the Li i6, the smaller sibling of the new Li Xiang i8 BEV.
The 20 Best Selling Electric Vehicles in China — January–August 2024
The king is dead, long live the king! The Geely Xingyuan is the new leader in China!
Yep, looking at the 2025 ranking, the little hatchback managed to surpass the aging BYD Song, and considering current sales trends, it seems the Geely model won’t leave that position anytime soon.
If this trend gets confirmed and the Xingyuan wins the title this year, it will be a first for the Chinese conglomerate, and the end of a three-year reign of the BYD Song. And to think that, up until this year, no model from the Geely mothership had even made it to the podium….
Segment-wise, this would also be a significant change. After two years of podiums made up entirely of midsize models, 2025 could be the year that small cars regain protagonism on the podium.
After all, the #3 Tesla Model Y has the tiny Wuling Mini EV just 5,000 units behind. So, although the US crossover remains the favorite for the bronze medal, it is not impossible that the little city car could end in 3rd. Now, imagine that — two small EVs on the Chinese podium! And people say that small EVs aren’t competitive….
Also interesting to see in the current standing is that we have four models on the top positions, from four different brands! Hurrah for diversity!
Just below the podium, there was another position change. Despite a so so month in August, the BYD Qin Plus benefitted from a horrible month from the BYD Seagull (down 51% YoY) to surpass it and reach the 5th spot.
Below the top positions, there was good news for Tesla, with the Model 3 climbing one position in August, to #11. The US sedan lost just 2% of its sales compared to August 2024.
The Climber of the Month was the BYD Yuan Up, which jumped from 18th to 15th position.
Finally, profiting from the BYD Han being in sunset mode, the BYD Dolphin returned to the table, replacing the aging flagship BYD at #19.
Looking at the overall manufacturer ranking (not just electrics), it seems BYD has found the demand ceiling in its domestic market. In August, it saw its sales drop by a significant 21% YoY, the second month in a row of significant drops, after the 17% decrease of July.
On the other hand, #2 Geely is far from these issues, having seen its sales jump 84% this year. This is while most foreign representatives are either stagnating or seeing sales drop. Most, but not all — Nissan was 10th thanks to enviable 25% growth YoY. With positive performances in both the ICE (Sylphy) and EV (N7) business, the Japanese brand shows that there is still hope for foreign brands.
Below Nissan, we have the other highlight of the month — fast-growing Leapmotor was at #11, thanks to almost 51,000 registrations. That’s an 83% jump YoY. The startup is currently at the top of its game, and now that it has become profitable, the Valley of Death is behind the nine-year-old startup. A top 5 position seems not only possible, but likely.
But Leapmotor’s startup leadership could be short-lived, because there are not one but two unstoppable trains coming from behind Leapmotor. One is called Xiaomi (#17 in August, up 178% YoY), while the other is Xpeng (#20, up 201% YoY). Which one of them will be the best selling EV startup in 2025? Please place your bets.
On the other hand, it’s not only foreign brands that are suffering. Local teams are down too, and possibly the most surprising is Li Auto, which saw its sales drop a significant 41% in August, ending the month at #22. With a PHEV-heavy lineup, the startup company is suffering from the country’s apparent shift towards BEVs. Could this be more proof that we have reached Peak PHEV?
Oh, and there’s the NIO brand. The premium positioning of the make was always going to suffer from the launch of the more mainstream Onvo brand. Especially now that they have a competitive model, the L90. And that shows in NIO’s sales, which are falling through the roof. They dropped in August to half of what they were a year before….
Auto Brands Selling the Most Electric Vehicles in China
Looking at the auto brand ranking for plugin vehicles, there isn’t much news. BYD (25.8%, down from 26%) continued its slow descent, but has its leadership position secured this year. #2 Geely (10.2%) is just too far behind to bother in any way.
Wuling (5%) stayed in the #3 spot, but lost some of its advantage over Tesla, which gained some share (4.8% now vs. 4.7% in July).
This means that, with two thirds of the year passed, for the first time since 2019, Tesla can’t reach the podium of the Chinese EV manufacturer table. Will this standing stay this way until the end of the year?
Elsewhere, a rising Leapmotor (3.9%, up from 3.8% in July) has gained ground over #6 Li Auto, which continues to slide (3.5% now vs. 3.6% in July). In fact, #7 Xpeng (3.3%) is getting close to it. Will the Guangzhou startup be able to surpass Li Auto in September, or will it have to wait for Q4?
Auto Groups Selling the Most Electric Vehicles in China
Looking at OEMs/automotive groups/alliances, BYD is comfortably leading, with 29% share of the market.
#2 Geely is a distant runner-up, with 12.4% share, but with #3 Changan having just 6.5% share, Geely is safe in the runner-up position.
As for #4 SAIC (5.7%), it is stable and should remain in 4th until the end of the year.
Tesla (4.8%, up 0.1% in August) remained in 5th, but Tesla’s 2024 #3 spot in the OEM ranking seems almost impossible to achieve, and it could even be the case that there will be no Tesla on any podium — models, brands, or OEMs — for the first time since 2019!
Fortunately for the US brand, #6 Chery (4.1%) is too far behind to become a real threat to its #5 position.
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