China November 2017

"Going where no other EV has gone before..."

BAIC EC-Series steps into warp speed (16,000 units!)

The rise and rise of the Chinese PEV market is unstoppable, with yet another record performance in November, with 84,000 new passenger PEVs being registered last month, almost doubling last year result, while pulling the YTD count to over 490,000 units, up 60% YoY.

As consequence of this accentuated growth, in November the PEV share crossed for the first time the 3% share, while the 2017 PEV market share is above 2%, firmly ahead of last year score (1.5%). As sales are expected to grow even further in December, the Chinese PEV market might even reach the 2.5% share by year end.

This is a highly protected market, and November highlighted this, with foreign brands losing 1% share, now just having 5% of all PEV sales. Of this (small) cake, 3% (Or 60% of it) belong to Tesla, with the remaining 2% (40%) being divided by all other auto makers.

In November, small city cars had the upper hand, as rumors are that this class of EVs won’t have such generous subsidies next year, leading to a sales rush of this category, with the BAIC EC-Series being the poster child of them, beating once again the world record for registrations in a single month, with 15,719 units, which are more deliveries that the Tesla brand had in its best sales month globally (14,598 units, last September). Putting this number into context, the EC-Series was the first plug-in to reach a Top 25 position (#22) in China, while in the same month, the best-selling PEV in the USA, the Chevrolet Bolt, was only #113...

Here’s November Top 5 Best Selling models individual performance:

#1 – BAIC EC-Series: I would say the 15.719 EC-Series registered last month are an historical landmark, but with ever improving performances, it looks like December should be even higher, will it reach 20,000 units by then? The little city EV is being disruptive in China, owing its success to a trendy design, reminding that of a Crossover, improved specs (Now with 200 kms / 125 miles range) and competitive pricing (USD 22,000), all in a booming market segment. With the Chinese AND the Global editions of the 2017 Best Selling PEV Award already in their hands, the EC-Series is now looking to increase the number of units sold in one year, just after having beaten the all-time record, that belonged to the Nissan Leaf since 2014 (61,013 units). As Master Yoda would say: “Judge not by size, the Force is strong with the EC”

#2 – JAC iEV6S/E: One of the EV pioneers in China, selling plug-ins since 2010, JAC is trying to regain relevance with its iEV6S/E compact Crossover, which registered a record 4.965 units in November, allowing it to reach the runner-up position last month. A vehicle targeted to hip(ster) urbanites, for a competitive USD 26,000 before incentives, you get a trendy compact vehicle (Kia Soul-sized), with the 33kWh battery providing decent range (251 kms / 157 miles NEDC), covering the needs of the urban jungle, while the engine has enough power (114 hp), to give it the needed “go” for their customers personal Millennium Falcon.

#3 – BYD Qin PHEV: Thanks to a recently increased range (100 kms / 63 miles), BYD’s sports sedan (0-100 kms/h in 5.9s) got its mojo back and, like Luke Skywalker, is once again a major player, registering a record 4.258 units in November. With a competitive price (USD 31,000 before incentives) and full access to government incentives, sales are expected to remain high, as long as BYD manages to make enough of them.

#4 – Zhidou D2 EV: As appealing as Chewbacca on crack, the little two seater continues to be delivered in large quantities (4.062 units in November), mostly due to fleet deals. This vehicle is sold as a Quadricycle (Think Renault Twizy) in some European countries, with the following specs: 12 kWh battery, 120 kms range (75 miles), all for some USD 19,000. The brand has ambitious plans to market it as a car-sharing vehicle in Europe, but will local consumers want to drive it?

#4 – JMC E200: A model that would only be considered sexy in Planet Vulcan, it does what is supposed to do, which is urban transportation. Based on a previous version of the Changan Benni EV, the little city car has 150 kms / 94 miles range and a limited 40 hp electric motor. It is, however, great value for money, for only USD 20,000 before subsidies, you get a four seater with decent equipment and a smartphone app! I am just imagining Vulcans and Sheldon Cooper going nuts over this…Like some of the 3,442 new owners of the model in November, possibly did.

JAC's Crossover has struck a chord among Chinese buyers

Year-to-Date Ranking – JAC iEV6S/E climbs to Fourth

In a stable market, the big news are the JAC iEV6S climbing to #4, at the expense of the BYD e5, being the highest standing for a JAC model since 2013.

The BYD Qin PHEV also had some reasons to be happy in November, climbing to #9 while the JMC E200 reached #14, thanks to a record month.

On the rise is also the Zotye Cloud EV, jumping to #16, thanks to a year best 3,099 deliveries, with other small EVs also surfing the year-end sales rush wave, like the Hawtai EV160 (2,834 units, new record), Zotye E200 (2,651), or Kandi K12 EV (2,194).

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, BYD (19%, down 1%) is watching the runner-up BAIC (17%, up 1%) approach, which could lead to a last minute change in the leadership in December, while in Third Place we (still) have Zhidou, with 8% share, with Roewe (Also 8%) creeping closer and closer, now less than 3,000 units behind, the Shanghai-based manufacturer will play all the cards in December to reach the podium, in its bid to become the Third of China’s “Big 3 PEV” club.

Pl	China	November	2017	%
1	BAIC EC-Series	15719	64910	13
2	Zhidou D2 EV	4062	41155	8
3	BYD Song PHEV	3367	26277	5
4	JAC iEV6S/E	4965	23088	5
5	BYD e5	1806	22455	5
6	Geely Emgrand EV	2570	20560	4
7	Chery eQ	3372	20134	4
8	SAIC Roewe eRX5 PHEV	1781	16823	3
9	BYD Qin PHEV	4258	16195	3
10	Zotye E200	2651	14263	3
11	BYD Tang	1758	13087	3
12	JMC E100	562	12734	3
13	Changan Benni EV	564	11720	2
14	JMC E200	3442	10828	2
15	BAIC EU-Series	1255	9911	2
16	Zotye Cloud EV	3099	8939	2
17	SAIC Roewe eRX5 BEV	1169	8807	2
18	Hawtai EV160	2834	8302	2
19	Tesla Model X   e)	900	7970	2
20	Kandi K12 EV	2194	7858	2
	Others	24384	132592
	TOTAL	84518	490750