China EV sales in W2 2024: BYD 40,300, Tesla 7,400, Nio 1,700, Aito 6,800

In the second week (W2) of the new year, January 8 – 14, China’s EV market had mixed development, with some brands continuing to decline while others already started growing (mainly Li Auto, Aito, and Tesla). BYD was down 9%, Tesla was up 130%, and Nio was down 43% from the week before. Among EV startups, Aito holds its surprise lead over Li Auto.

The weekly 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 term for BEVs, PHEVs, and EREVs (range extenders). To be completely precise, it also includes hydrogen vehicles (FCEVs), but their sales are almost non-existent in China.

BYD got the first spot, registering 40,300 EVs, down 9.23% from 44,400 the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1 -14), BYD sold 84,700 EVs in China.

BYD’s brand YangWang, which has a sole model on sale – a 1.089 million yuan (153,000 USD) hardcore SUV YangWang U9, registered 270 vehicles, down 16.9% from the week before.

Second, BYD’s brand, Fang Cheng Bao (FCB), which also has a sole model on sale called Bao 5 (Leopard 5 in English), registered 1,060 vehicles, down 5% from the week before. FCB is still a premium brand but way cheaper than YangWang. Bao 5 UV has a price tag of around 300,000 yuan (42,000 USD).

The third BYD brand, Denza, is a former joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, which BYD took control of in 2021. It is positioned above BYD-badged cars but below FCB. Denza registered 1,500 cars, down 6.25% from 1,600 the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1-14), Denza sold 3,100 cars in China.

Tesla registered 7,400 EVs, up 131.25% from 3,200 the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1-14), Tesla sold 10,600 EVs in China.

Models sales breakdown:

• Model 3: 1,700 units
• Model Y: 5,700 units

Nio registered 1,700 EVs, down 43.33% from 3000 the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1-14), Nio sold 4,700 EVs in China.

Main models sales breakdown:

• ES6: 630 units
• ET5: 560 units
• EC6: 290 units

Huawei’s Aito got the first spot among EV startups for the second time and registered 6,800 vehicles, up 15.25% from 5,900 vehicles the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1-14), Aito sold 12,800 vehicles in China. Aito sells both BEVs and EREVs.

Aito is a big surprise of 2023 as Huawei got tired of its struggling sales and used its deep pockets to introduce radical price cuts and various perks, and it worked. Aito jumped from 2k-3k monthly sales to almost 25,000 sold vehicles in December 2023 and became a relevant player in the tight China EV race.

Models sales breakdown:

• M5: 420 units
• M7: 6,400 units

Li Auto was closely second in EV startup sales, registering 6,800 vehicles, up 58.14% from 4,300 the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1-14), Li Auto sold 11,000 vehicles in China. Li Auto sells only EREV, and its first BEV Li Mega minivan will be introduced on March 1.

Models sales breakdown:

• L7: 3,000 units
• L8: 2,000 units
• L9: 1,800 units

Changan’s Deepal got the third post, making it another surprise as we are not used to seeing it so high on the leaderboard. Deepal registered 3,300 vehicles, down 2.94% from 3,400 the week before. In the first half of the month (January 1-14), Deepal sold 6,700 vehicles in China. Deepal sells BEVs, EREVs, and FCEVs (hydrogen) versions of its two models, the SL03 sedan and S7 SUV.

Xpeng almost didn’t make it into the top 10, registering 1,400 EVs, the same as the 1,400 units sold the week before, good for ninth spot. In the first half of the month, Xpeng sold 2,800 EVs in China.

Models sales breakdown:

• G6: 410 units
• P7i: 370 units
• G9: 260 units
• X9: 180 units
• P5: 160 units

Volkswagen registered 3,500 EVs, down 7.89% from 3,800 the week before. In the first half of the month, VW sold 7,300 EVs in China. VW launched the 2024 ID.3 and ID.4 on January 1 in China.

Edit: The article was updated with model sales breakdown for some brands.