China September 2020

 

Wuling Mini EV #1 in September

The overall Chinese market remained with positive numbers last month (+8% YoY), with plugins faring even better, growing by 66% YoY in September, to 131,000 units, a new year best, with BEVs growing faster (+73%), than plugin hybrids (+43%), allowing pure electrics to have 80% of plugin sales last month, slightly above this year average of 79%.

Last month plugin share reached 6.3% (5% BEV), pulling the 2020 share to 5.2% (4.1% BEV), that although is still below from the 5.5% of 2019, it is a step in the right direction and it should surpass last year's score towards the end of the year.

Looking at September Best Sellers, we have 2 midsize sedans ( #2 Tesla Model 3, #4 GAC Aion S) and 3 City EVs, confirming the return of small EVs to the spotlight, with the Wuling EV even managing to beat the almighty Tesla Model 3 in the race for Best Selling model.

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

 

 

#1 – Wuling HongGuang Mini EV

 A big name for a small car, the Wuling EV scored a record 14,495 units last month, meaning that the production ramp up continues, so expect the tiny four-seater to continue growing in the newxt few months. The reason for the overnight success? Well, it is one of the cheapest EVs on the market ($4,200!!!), and yet, it’s not all that bad, as the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint-venture model can seat 4 people (or 3 people and a bit of cargo, or 2 with a fair amount of cargo – 741 liters), in car that is a tad larger (2,917 mm / 114.8 in) than a Smart Fortwo EV, sure, range is not brilliant (smaller battery version has 9.2 kWh battery, top spec version has a 13.8 kWh battery), just like the motor (27hp), but it has only 665 kg curb weight to carry around and is highway capable, so in order to have the 4,200 USD price, without subsidies, one can’t expect miracles... At this price level, the Wuling EV is in position to be a disruptive force in urban mobility, not only against 4-wheeled private transportation, but also against 2 and 3-wheelers. This EV could be a game changer, and not only in China...

 

#2 – Tesla Model 3

The poster child for electric mobility hit 11,329 units last month, and while it’s not its all time best, Tesla’s midsizer continues firmly above the 10,000 mark and should have a bump in deliveries during the next few months, as the new LFP-battery SR version starts its deliveries. The Model 3 is close to get in the way of the category Best Sellers in the overall market, as the Californian is not that far-off from the BMW 3-Series (15,900 units), Mercedes C-Class (15,700) and Audi A4 (14,300), so the Tesla sports sedan still has some room to grow. Will we see it reach some 15,000 units/month cruise speed this year?

 

 #3 – Great Wall ORA Black Cat (R1)

 A few decades ago, Hollywood had a Rat Pack, and maybe inspired by that one, Great Wall decided to create its own Cat Pack, transforming its tiny R1 Smart-lookalike into the Black Cat, launching the R2 model (think Scion XB/Toyota Urban Cruiser kind of vehicle) as the White Cat, that delivered 1,035 units last month, and to lead the Pack, Great Wall is now preparing the launch of the Good Cat, a chunky (and funky) compact hatchback (VW Golf sized) that kinda looks like a Porsche 356 in the front, a Toyota from the side, and the back...Well, it’s its own thing. But enough of the Good Cat, we are here to talk about the Black Cat, that delivered 5,141 units in September, the City EV best score since the new subsidy rules were enacted, back in June 2019. It looks the new name is allowing a second youth to the Ora model, that is also benefitting from the revenge of City EVs...

  

#4 – GAC Aion S

 GAC’s sleek sedan was 4th in September, having registered 4,548 units, a new year best, so it looks the Aion S has found its space, sharing the stage with its crossover sibling, the new Aion V (2,183 units last month). One of the most competitive domestic electric sedans on the market, the Aion S should continue to be a regular in this Top 5, being a strong candidate to the 2020 Bronze medal position.

 

#5 – SAIC Baojun E-Series

 Compared with the base basics Wuling EV, the Baojun E-Series (E100/200/300) are the SGMW more hip and upmarket city models, seeing their demand stay high during the past few months, winning a 5th spot in September, thanks to 4,236 units last month. The access to the current subsidy, added to competitive pricing (CNY 93,900 / USD 14,700) before subsidies, makes it an appealing model for young urban drivers, as well as car-sharing companies and other kind of fleets. 

Looking at the remaining Best Sellers table in September, a mention to a few record performances, like the Li Xiang One (3,830 units), NIO ES6 (3,226) or the hot Xpeng P7 (2,573), confirming the good moment of local EV Startups, while two recent additions to the market, the GAC Aion V (2,183 units) and the BYD Han EV (3,624) and PHEV (1,988) siblings continue their production ramp ups, with the Han EV becoming last month’s Best Selling BYD, and if both were counted together, the full-size Han would have been 3rd last month...

Below the Top 20, a reference to the ramp-up of Geely’s Geometry C, with 1,156 units, with the Chinese maker hoping to succeed with this hatchback, where the sedan (Geometry A) failed. With Polestar, Lynk & Co and Geely itself also going for dedicated BEVs, one wonders how the Geometry lineup sits in the middle of all this...

NIO’s barge flagship SUV, the ES8, scored 1,435 units last month, its best score since May 2019, mostly thanks to the new 100 kWh version, while another EV startup is starting to gain momentum, with Hozon’s Neta N01 small crossover hitting a record 1,332 deliveries.

Looking at the 2020 ranking, if the Model 3 is the undisputed leader, below it, the Wuling Mini EV, after joining the table in July, in #13, kept on rising and in September, it jumped 4 spots, to #2.

This move highlights the latest trend, City EVs are returning to the spotlight, not only with the Wuling EV, but also the #5 Baojun E-Series, while the newly called Great Wall Ora Black Cat was up to #6, and the #8 Chery eQ, thus making 4 City EVs in the Top 8.   

But it weren’t only with the City EVs shining, as the local EV startups continue climbing positions, with the Li Xiang One rising to #10, and with just 234 units separating it from a falling BMW 530Le, the big SUV should become the Best Selling PHEV in the table by October.

The Weltmeister EX5 also had reasons to celebrate, as the crossover was up one spot, to #12.

BYD also had a positive month, as the Han EV joined the table, in #19, now making 6 BYD’s in the Top 20...

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, BYD (15%) is in the leadership, followed by the #2 Tesla (12%, down 1%), and the SGMW joint-venture (9%, up 2%).

Below the podium, the race is tight, Volkswagen (6%) is holding on to #4, with the #5 SAIC and #6 GAC less than 500 units away from the German maker, so anything can happen here, while NIO (4%) has surpassed BAIC and is now #7.