In week #4 of 2024, between January 22-28, the market was mostly up in China. BYD registered 43,300 vehicles, up 7%, Tesla 12,800, up 9%, Huawei-backed Aito 8,000, up 10%, and Nio 3,300 EVs, up 70% from the week before. Companies rush to sell their inventories as the most significant Chinese holiday is coming – the lunar new year falls on February 10, and China will be out of business for the next couple of weeks.
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 post as usual and registered 43,300 vehicles, up 7.18% from 40,400 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, BYD registered 168,500 vehicles in China.
BYD has over 100 models and trim levels in its lineup and is preparing even more product launches in 2024. In March, the company will launch the compact SUV BYD Yuan UP. BYD Qin L is warming up for launch, and BYD Sea Lion 07 recently applied for a sales license. BYD also revealed that Sea Lion will be a new series, with 05, 06, and 07 being its first models.
Tesla registered 12,800 BEVs, up 9.40% from 11,700 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Tesla registered 35,200 BEVs in China. The new generation of Tesla Model Y codenamed Juniper, is rumored to start production in the Shanghai factory in April.
Nio registered 3,300 BEVs, up 73.68% from 1,900 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Nio sold 9,900 BEVs in China.
Li Auto got the first spot among EV startups, registering 8,500 vehicles, up 11.84% from 7,600 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Li Auto registered 27,100 vehicles in China. Li Auto sells only EREV, and its first all-electric vehicle – MPV called Li Mega – will launch on March 1.
The second spot goes to Huawei-backed Aito, which has been in tight contact with Li Uto over the past week. In the week 4, Aito registered 8,000 vehicles, up 9.59% from 7,300 the week before. Aito sells its models always in two variants: BEV and EREV. Between January 1 and January 28, Aito registered 28,000 vehicles in China, more than Li Auto.
Zeekr registered 3,100 BEVs, up 10.71% from 2,800 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Zeekr registered 10,500 BEVs in China.
Changan’s Deepal registered 3,000 vehicles, down 6.25% from 3,200 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Deepal registered 12,900 vehicles. Like Aito, Deepal offers more powertrain options for its models: BEV, PHEV, EREV, and even FCEV (hydrogen). It sells two cars, the Deepal S7 SUV and the Deepal SL03 sedan.
Stellantis-backed Leapmotor registered 2,700 vehicles, the same as the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Leapmotor registered 10,800 vehicles in China.
Last Tuesday, Leapmotor’s President and co-founder resigned as the company announced Wu Baojun’s contract was terminated.
Volkswagen-backed Xpeng registered 2,200 BEVs, up 22.22% from 1,800 the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, Xpeng registered 6,800 BEVs in China.
Volkswagen registered 3,600 electric vehicles in China, down 5.26% from 3,800 EVs the week before. Between January 1 and January 28, VW registered 14,700 EVs in China. On January 3, VW launched 2024 ID.4 and ID.3 in China.
Today I Saw an ET5 in Warsaw, I would assume imported from Germany….it was really impressive…a model 3 compare with the ET5 is like comparing a Dacia with a 5 Series (BMW)