BYD Yuan EV #1 in July
The Chinese PEV market is in summer-chill mode, with some 75,000 units being registered in July, up only 64%, this slowdown from the three-digit growth rates of previous months is explained by the fact that New Energy subsidies were slashed to vehicles with range lower to 150 kms, in June, so most small City EVs stopped being sold, draining a significant percentage of sales.
Consequently, the PEV share stayed away from the record 5% of May, ending July with 3.9% share in June, while the 2018 PEV share rose slightly, to 3% share, well above the 2.1% of 2017, and with sales expected to pick up as the year advances, the 2018 PEV share should end North of the 3%4% threshold, with December possibly reaching 7%.
Last month, the Chinese OEMs represented almost 50% of all PEVs registered globally, an impressive number, that should increase during 2018.
With symbolic export numbers, the domestic market is more than enough to absorb the current Chinese production, helped by the fact that it is still a protected market and foreign OEMs hadn’t yet looked seriously at this niche, but with PEV quotas to be fulfilled in the near future, foreign brands are putting an effort, reaching 7% share. Of this (small) cake, 3% belong to Tesla, 2% to BMW, with the remaining manufacturers sharing the final 2%.
In July, the headlining news were the BYD Yuan EVbeing the monthly Best Seller, in only its second month on the market. Has BYD found its “BAIC EC-Series Killer”?
Here’s July Top 5 Best Selling models individual performance:
#1 – BYD Yuan EV: We all knew that BYD’s new Baby Crossover was destined for success, what few imagined was that it was going to become the #1 seller right in its second month on the market, with 4,174 deliveries, beating inclusively the BAIC EC-Series, that needed three months to reach #1. Are we witnessing the rise of the 2019 Best Selling model? I guess it will depend more on BYD’s ability/willingness to make them in volume, than actual demand, sitting on the vortex of the two fastest selling segments (Compact Crossovers and EVs), with unrivalled specs (42kWh battery, 305 kms/190 mi NEDC range, 174 hp motor), and price (25,000 USD), BYD might have found its star player, crowning what it is already a strong lineup.
#2 – BYD Qin PHEV: With the second-generation Qin just a few weeks from landing, the first generation slowed down a bit, but still, with 4,068 units, BYD’s “Model 3” scored its 11th consecutive “3-4 thousand units/month”result (Talk about consistency!). Sales are still going strong for BYD’s sports-sedan, and should continue at the same level, until the arrival of the new one. As for the new generation, sales above 5,000/month should be the norm, becoming the (Second) Best Selling BYD.
#3 – JAC iEV S/E: JAC was one of the EV pioneers in China, selling plug-ins since 2010, and now it’s back at the game, registering 3,853 units last month. With a competitive price of USD 26,000 before incentives, this is a vehicle targeted at trendy urbanites that for some reason can’t reach a BYD Song or Roewe’s eRX5, getting in return a good-looking compact vehicle (Kia Soul-sized), with just enough power and range (114 hp & 251 kms/156 mi) to not to make it look bad. Now, about that new BYD Yuan EV…
#4 – Roewe Ei6: The automaker not so compact sedan, and a favorite among private buyers, this aspirational sedan registered 3,783 unitsin July, its second-best month ever, allowing for its first Top 5 presence. Banking on the model strongpoints, like its design and quality, that compensate some middle-of-the-road specs (9 kWh battery…) and aspirational price (202,000 CNY, or 20,000 Yuan more than the better specced BYD Qin). Now, about the fancy new BYD Qin II…
#5 – Chery eQ: Chery was one of the Chinese brands to bet early in plug-ins, having won the models title three times in a row (2011, ’12, ’13), with its tiny QQ3 EV, now the automaker is trying to regain relevance with the eQ, the spiritual (and material) successor to the QQ3, having registered 3,665 units in July, allowing it to collect a Top 5 position last month. A vehicle marketed to city dwellers, for USD 24,000 before incentives, you get a funky city EV, with the 22kWh battery providing just enough range (200 kms / 125 miles NEDC), to cover the needs of the urban jungle.
2018 BYD Tang |
2018 ranking
There weren’t many changes on the top positions, in fact we have to go down to #9, to see a position change, with three models (BAIC EX-Series, Chery eQ and Geely Emgrand EV) all climbing one position, at the expense of the Zhidou D2 EV, currently crossing a sales drought, due to the removal of incentives.
Another model hurting from the removal of incentives to short range BEVs is the tiny Baojun E100, down two positions to #15, to the profit of the #13 Roewe Ei5 and #14 Hawtai EV160.
Two other models climbed positions, with the Zotye E200 reaching #16 and the Tesla Model X, #18.
The BYD Tang rejoined the Top 20, thanks to the new generation, that registered 3,551 units last month, the nameplate best result in 31 months, expect the midsize SUV to climb a few more positions in the coming months.
Finally, the BYD Yuan EV, despite being only in its second month on the market, it is already #22, on the 2018 ranking, and should join the Top 20 in August, the small Crossover is following the footsteps of the BAIC EC-Series, question is, will BYD be able to make the 10,000-plus units/month that BAIC has already proven to be capable of doing.
Looking at the manufacturers ranking, BYD (19%) is now a comfortable leader, thanks to the Yuan EV, while the runner-up BAIC (14%, down 2%), is losing share due to the EC-Series sales drought, with the EX & EU-Series unable to fully compensate this drop.
In Third Place, the Shanghai-based Roewe (11%, down 1%) holds the last place of the podium, with a significant advantage over the new #4, Chery (6% share), and with BAIC now only 3% above it, the SAIC brand is now going after the Silver medal.
Looking at the SAIC Group (Roewe + MG + Maxus + Baojun) as one entity, it is already Second Placed, with 14% of the Chinese plug-in market, so it won’t be surprising to see it running for the #1 OEM soon.
Pl | China | July | 2018 | % |
1 | BAIC EC-Series | 500 | 40406 | 9 |
2 | BYD Qin PHEV | 4068 | 27013 | 6 |
3 | BYD Song PHEV | 2408 | 23609 | 5 |
4 | JAC iEV S/E | 3853 | 21400 | 5 |
5 | BYD e5 | 3056 | 19678 | 4 |
6 | SAIC Roewe Ei6 PHEV | 3783 | 18973 | 4 |
7 | JMC E200 | 2121 | 16070 | 4 |
8 | SAIC Roewe eRX5 PHEV | 2242 | 15586 | 3 |
9 | BAIC EX-Series | 3002 | 15202 | 3 |
10 | Chery eQ | 3665 | 15180 | 3 |
11 | Geely Emgrand EV | 2500 | 13799 | 3 |
12 | Zhidou D2 EV | 343 | 12780 | 3 |
13 | SAIC Roewe Ei5 EV | 2939 | 12707 | 3 |
14 | Hawtai EV160 | 3113 | 12568 | 3 |
15 | SAIC Baojun E100 | 602 | 11127 | 2 |
16 | Zotye E200 | 1919 | 9279 | 2 |
17 | BAIC EU-Series | 1618 | 9140 | 2 |
18 | Tesla Model X e) | 1600 | 7869 | 2 |
19 | Chery eQ1 | 7238 | 2 | |
20 | BYD Tang PHEV (Gen. I & II) | 3551 | 6835 | 2 |
Others | 28251 | 134864 | 29 | |
TOTAL | 75134 | 451323 | 100 |
About BAIC EC, I was told that these 500 are from the new generation, so it will arrive in numbers in August
ReplyDeleteAny info about NIO ES8 sales numbers?
ReplyDeletea little over 1,000 in July
DeleteHalf of the top 20 Plug-In models (10 out of 20) are from just different 3 brands:
ReplyDeleteBAIC
BYD
SAIC Roewe
And in the top 10 it's even more than that. It's 7 out of 10 (70%).
The BYD Yuan EV360 is not even in the top 20 yet. So, next month it will be 11 out of 20!!!
How do you know? :) What are you reading, guys?
DeleteBYD Yuan EV not in table. New model?
ReplyDeleteWhat about Dongfeng Fengnuo EV (fluence and samsung sm3 clone)? Could you post here the montly and anual sales..although i supose is not in first 20 table. Thanks
Yes, it was only its second month on the market.
DeleteRegarding the Dongfeng EV it's faaar from the Top 20, selling in the two digits per month.
Jose,
ReplyDeleteHow about the Plug-In Nissan Sylphy?
Is that already being delivered in China?
Not to my knowledge.
DeleteOrders were already opened. But no deliveries, I think
DeleteJose,
ReplyDeleteThe BAIC EC-Series and the BYD Yuan EV360 both have the potential of 100,000 sales/deliveries in China in 2019.
Are there any other Plug-In models that could reach such level of sales/deliveries in China in 2019? There may be a few Plug-In models still in the pipeline that are very likely to be very popular in China in 2019?
I have no crystal ball, but now that BAIC and BYD have their 100k Best Sellers on the market, i would say now it's time for SAIC and Geely to launch their own Best Sellers.
DeleteWhat are Model S sales for July or YTD?
ReplyDeletei still have estimates for July (600), while the YTD should be around 4k.
DeleteJose,
ReplyDelete"JAC was one of the EV pioneers in China, selling plug-ins since 2010, and now it’s back at the game, registering 3,853 units last month."
The JAC iEV S/E is the only Plug-In model in the top 20 from JAC.
Does JAC offer more Plug-In models in China?
Which other Plug-In models from JAC are there anyway?
To my knowledge, there are two other models, the iEV7, a small and cheap sedan, and the iEVA50, a compact sedan in the likes of the BYD e5.
DeleteDo you know, who are the clients of Panasonic factory in Dalian(which started to work at spring 2018)?
ReplyDeleteThey are making prismatic cells there, so it is definetely not a Tesla...
Regarding the Panasonic factory in Dalian:
Delete"Amidst expectations of expanding demand for automotive lithium-ion batteries, Panasonic manufactures the high-capacity and high-safety prismatic-type batteries at this factory and ships them to the North American and Chinese markets. Shipments will be expanded in the future to reach more destinations, helping to drive the spread of eco-conscious vehicles."
Jose,
ReplyDeleteThe new BAIC EC-Series EV will possibly have managed substantially higher sales/deliveries numbers in August 2018 than the 500 in it managed in July 2018.
Any idea when you will be posting China August 2018?
Cheers
Next week.
Delete