In week 41 of 2023 (October 9-15), the electric vehicle market was up with a few exceptions, such as Wuling. That is understandable, as W40 was the last week of the National Holiday in China, and sales were generally low.
The data were published by Li Auto, and they represent weekly sales. The background data are weekly insurance registrations. The numbers are rounded and present new energy vehicles (NEV), the Chinese government term for BEVs and PHEVs. To be completely precise, it also includes hydrogen vehicles (FCEVs), but their sales are almost non-existent in China.
As usual, BYD became the sales champion, selling 53,900 vehicles, up 5% from the previous week. BYD sells both BEV and PHEV; in September, 53% of their sales were all-electric vehicles. In the first half of the month (October 1-15), BYD sold 110,500 vehicles in China.
As for NEV startups, Li Auto is the winner, selling 10,500 vehicles in W41, up 52%, also their weekly record. Li Auto is aiming to break the 40k deliveries in October.
Li Auto sells only range-extended electric vehicles (EREVs), which are EVs with ICE as a power generator for the battery, not connected to wheels. In December, Li Auto will launch its first all-electric car, Li Mega. It will be a massive MPV priced above 500,000 yuan (70k USD).
Tesla sold 7,500 EVs in W41, up 650% from the previous week when they sold only 1,000 units in China. Last week, hundreds of facelifted Model 3+ were spotted in the parking lot of the Giga Shanghai plant, ready for export.
On October 1, Tesla launched a slightly updated Tesla Model Y SUV with more power and the same price tag in China. On September 1, the US automaker started the presale of the facelifted Model 3 in China. The new electric sedan is 12% more expensive than the previous version, which is a brave move in the ultra-competitive Chinese market. The RWD Model 3 starts at 259,900 yuan (35,900 USD), making it on par with Model Y price. The deliveries will begin in Q4; Tesla didn’t specify the exact date yet.
Tesla sold 74,073 China-made vehicles in September, down 11% compared with the same period last year and 12% down month-on-month.
Nio sold 3,500 EVs in W41, up 169% from the previous week. Nio sold 15,641 vehicles in September, down 19% from the previous month and up 44% from the same period last year. In the first half of the month, from October 1 – October 15, the Hefei-based automaker sold 5,100 EVs in China.
In September, Nio finished the transition of its lineup to a new NT2.0 platform. The updated models based on the NT2.2 platform will be unveiled in Q1 2024, as well as a unique brand codenamed Alps, based on new NT3.0 architecture later.
Xpeng sold 3,200 EVs, up 146% from the previous week. From October 1 – October 15, the company sold 4,600 EVs in China.
