Global Top 10 January 2018

Top Dog, ya'll!!!

Models: BAIC EC-Series shines in reshuffled ranking

2018 started on a positive note, with registrations almost doubling (+94%) YoY, to over 82.000 units, in no small part thanks to the Chinese market (35k units), which makes the prospect of this year the global PEV market reaching two million units (and 2% share) a bit more realistic. 

This month it was all about the BAIC EC-Series, not happy with winning the 2017 Best Seller title, it started the new year almost doubling sales of the #2 Nissan Leaf (7.870 vs 4.447), with the Second Generation on the Japanese hatchback now hitting dealerships in North America and Europe, expect this difference to be greatly reduced in the coming months, so this early lead could prove to be essential in the race between these two.

The EC-Series isn't the only Chinese model in the Top 10, as four out of the Top 10 Best Selling models came from that same country, besides the aforementioned BAIC EC-Series (#1), the others are: JAC iEV6/7 S/E (#3 - 3.356 units), BYD Qin PHEV (#4 - 3.334), and BYD Song PHEV (#7 - 2.681). Interestingly, only the EC-Series is a city car, will this "Going upmarket" be the new 2018 trend in China? 

As for the remaining Top 10, there were significant changes, besides the disappearance of Tesla (Off-peak month and the Model 3 is just starting to spread its wings), with the Renault Zoe and Chevrolet Bolt also dropping from the Top 10, leading to new entries, besides the aforementioned Chinese models, there are three new additions, with the Mitsu Outlander PHEV resurfacing in #8, possibly helped by the North American landing, the VW e-Golf started the year in Ninth, but the biggest surprise was the Hyundai Ioniq Electric reaching #10, with 2.221 units, its best performance so far, which can be attributed to the consecutive production increases that the Korean carmaker has been doing.

And yet, the Hyundai hatchback still suffers from a months-long waiting list, so the Korean brand needs to increase output even further.

Looking at the BEV / PHEV breakdown, pure electrics started the year at 56%, thanks to the Chinese rise, and expect this score to be constantly improved throughout the year, maybe to levels above the 65% of last year. 

Pl	WORLD	Jan.	YTD	%	'17Pl
1	BAIC EC-Series	7.870	7.870	10	1
2	Nissan Leaf  *	4.447	4.447	5	4
3	JAC iEV6/7 S/E	3.356	3.356	4	13
4 5 6	BYD Qin PHEV Toyota Prius Prime/PHV BMW i3	3.334 3.219 2.695	3.334 3.219 2.695	4 4 3	17 3 8
7	BYD Song PHEV	2.681	2.681	3	9
8	Mitsu. Outlander PHEV	2.286	2.286	3	14
9	VW e-Golf	2.266	2.266	3	21
10	Hyundai Ioniq Electric	2.221	2.221	3	20
	TOTAL	82.035	82.035

* - Leaf I & II combined

Manufacturers:  BAIC is rising

The "Three B's" started the year in podium positions, but unexpectidely it was BAIC to lead the way, with 8.700 units, leaving the #2 BMW and #3 BYD comfortably behind, while Tesla was a distant Fourth.

Considering the aggressive targets set for 2018 from BAIC, BYD and Tesla, expect an interesting race between these three, and the early lead went for Beijing Auto. Will it still lead by year end? No idea, but place your bets if you know best... 

Looking elsewhere, Roewe reached Fifth Place and is determined to stay there for a long time, while Volkswagen profited from the e-Golf demand/production increase, to start the year in Sixth, a place below we find Nissan, which is starting to benefit from the Leaf II (3.768 units in Japan) sales, so expect the Japanese carmaker to start climbing positions once the Leaf II is in full swing.

JAC took advantage from the slow sales Toyota and Chevrolet, to overcome them, thanks to 3.621 units, a new personal best.

Pl	WORLD	Jan.	YTD	%	'17Pl
1	BAIC	8.700	8.700	11	2
2	BMW	7.462	7.462	9	4
3	BYD	7.156	7.156	9	1
4	Tesla	5.120	5.120	6	3
5 6 7	Roewe Volkswagen  Nissan	5.009 4.874 4.708	5.009 4.874 4.708	6 6 6	8 9 6
8	JAC	3.621	3.621	4	17
9	Toyota	3.219	3.219	4	7
10	Chevrolet	2.638	2.638	3	5