China July 2018

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