China: Sales of plug-in vehicles reached almost 6 million in 2022

December sales of plug-in electric vehicles in China were lower than expected, but they still set a new high. According to EV Volumes data shared by Jose Pontes, 671,450 new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered in China in December, representing a 32% increase over the previous year and the best result ever (after 636,223 units in September and 625,205 in November).

When China sets its mind on something, the task gets done. No excuses. Just laser focus. Check out the growth in electric cars — one in four cars sold in 2022 were EV!

That's 6.8 million NEV — 75% pure battery EV and 25% plug-in hybrid.

NEV's market share of new car sales: 👇 pic.twitter.com/WiwxwLn24B

— S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) January 24, 2023

Surprisingly, 471,000 all-electric car registrations were made (a few thousand less than in September). 

BEV registrations accounted for approximately 21% of the total automotive market. Meanwhile, the end of domestic incentives in some Chinese cities boosted plug-in hybrid car sales to around 200,000 units. That said, we may see a downturn in this category in early 2023.

Plug-in car registrations in December 2022:

• BEVs: approximately 471,000 (an increase of 13%) and a 21% share 
• PHEVs: about 200,000 and a 9% share
• Total: 671,450 (an increase of 32%), with a 30% share.

5.92 million plug-in vehicles registrations

Over 5.92 million new passenger plug-in electric cars were enlisted in China in 2022, an increase of 83% from 2021. 

The outcome was very close to the China Passenger Car Association’s (CPCA) forecast of 6 million passenger plug-in electric vehicles in 2022.

Furthermore, roughly 30% of all new cars in China (including microcars) were rechargeable, and 22% were all-electric. Only two years ago, BEVs had a mere 5% market share.

Plug-in car registrations in FY 2022:

• BEVs: approximately 4.35 million, with a 22% market share*.

• PHEVs: about 1.58 million, accounting for 8% of the market.

• Total: 5,924,421 (an increase of 83%) and 30% market-share. 

* estimated 

I think China plug-in EV sales may have already reached 6% this month (or pretty close to it), so what you suggested is entirely possible (and not just China, but also worldwide total): Cc: @tesla @InsideEVs @cleantechnica pic.twitter.com/AGfW12AnSV

— hummingbird228 (@hummingbird228) December 11, 2018

BYD, the world’s largest plug-in electric car manufacturer, clearly dominates China (and is the second largest all-electric car manufacturer behind Tesla).

The Chinese manufacturer has seven model families (BEV and PHEV combined) in the top ten lists for the month and six in the full ten lists for the year.

The BYD Song Plus (BEV + PHEV) was the best-selling model in 2022, with 476,784 units sold (including over 70,000 in December).

The tiny Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV came in second with 423,998 units (34,523 in December), while the Tesla Model Y came in third with 315,607 units (including 29,387 in December).

Top ten models in December 2022:

1. BYD Song Plus (BEV + PHEV) 70,269
2. Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV 34,523 
3. BYD Han (BEV + PHEV) 30,043
4. Tesla Model Y 29,387 
5. BYD dolphin 26,074
6. BYD Qin Plus (BEV + PHEV) 23,149
7. BYD Yuan: 22,599 
8. BYD Tang (BEV + PHEV): 20,164
9. BYD Seal 15,378
10. GAC Aion Y: 14,311 

* In the source, BEV and PHEV variants of the same models were combined.

The results are devastating for non-Chinese automakers, with only three non-Chinese electric vehicles in the top 20 (Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, and Volkswagen ID.4) (but all locally produced).

It could be the most significant discovery: the rapid transition from internal combustion engine cars to all-electric vehicles will turn the entire car market on its head.

I wonder what BEV sales in China will look like after the first quarter of 2023.

While @Tesla was cutting prices, BYD was raising them. pic.twitter.com/2p872xA6QX

— Roland Pircher (@piloly) February 4, 2023

Top 10 year-to-date:

1. BYD Song Plus (BEV + PHEV): 476,784

2. Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV: 423,998

3. Tesla Model Y: 315,607

4. BYD Qin Plus (BEV + PHEV): 315,079

5. BYD Han (BEV + PHEV): 269,691

6. BYD Dolphin: 204,674

7. BYD Yuan Plus BEV: 190,411

8. BYD Tang (BEV + PHEV): 148,001

9. Tesla Model 3: 125,361

10. GAC Aion Y: 119,687

11. GAC Aion S: 115,655

12. Changan Benni EV: 97,173

13. Chery QQ Ice Cream: 96,529

14. Hozon Neta V EV: 95,553

15. Chery eQ1 / Little Ant: 95,370

16. Volkswagen ID.4: 81,672

17. Li Xiang One EREV: 78,792

18. Dongfeng Fengshen E-Series: 75,427

19. Zeekr 001: 71,941

20. Great Wall Ora Good Cat: 62,432

BYD’s market share increased to nearly 31 percent after the first 12 months of the year. Tesla had 7.4 percent (just behind SAIC-GM-Wuling), and Volkswagen had 3.2 percent (3.7 percent as the Volkswagen Group).

Year-to-date market share leaders in the plug-in segment:

1. BYD: 30.9%
2. SAIC-GM-Wuling: 8.0%
3. Tesla: 7.4%
4. GAC: 4.6%
5. Changan: 3.9%
6. Chery: 3.8%
7. Geely: 3.7%
8. Volkswagen: 3.2%

Year-to-date share of leading car groups in the plug-in segment:

BYD: 31.1%

SAIC: 10.5% including SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture (between SAIC, GM, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors)

1. Tesla: 7.4%
2. Geely-Volvo: 5.7%
3. GAC: 4.9%Chery: 4.1%
4. Chery: 4.1%
5. Changan: 4.0%
6. Dongfeng: N/A
7. Volkswagen Group: 3.7%

We are excited to see what happens in 2023, as Tesla’s new pricing policy may significantly impact some of the other automakers.