Global NEV Sales Reached 1.29 Mt Units in Dec 2022, up 12% MoM

SHANGHAI, Feb 3 (SMM) - In December 2022, a total of 1.29 million new energy vehicles were sold globally, an increase of 12% month-on-month and a year-on-year increase of 52%. The sales throughout 2022 totalled 10.47 million units, a year-on-year increase of 66%. Among them, pure electric vehicle sales reached 951,000 units, an increase of 10.8% month-on-month, accounting for 74% of the total market, while a total of 338,000 plug-in hybrid models were sold, a growth of 15.5% month-on-month, accounting for the remaining 26%.

Globally speaking, the European and American markets performed well. The European economy was boosted when the Russia-Ukraine conflicts eased and the industrial chain and logistics gradually recovered. The subsidies for new energy vehicles in Germany, Norway and other places would expire in 2023 and the value-added tax will be imposed, and consumers advanced their consumption appropriately. Particularly, the subsidies in Germany officially expired on January 1, 2023. Therefore, in December, the European market ushered in the largest growth of the year. In December, a total of 386,100 vehicles were sold in Europe, a month-on-month increase of 40%, and the global market share was as much as 30%. The US market maintained steady growth, on the other hand, with a total of 103,400 vehicles sold in December, a month-on-month increase of 17%, and a global market share of 8%. Looking back on the Chinese NEV market, the pandemic control measures were relaxed gradually at the beginning of December, and the market turned quiet with people staying nervous. Coupled with the soon-to-expire national NEV subsidies, the market was wait-and-see towards car prices, weighing on the sales. As such, China’s NEV sales in December recorded 764,000 units, still ranking first globally with a MoM increase of 3%. Nonetheless, China’s global market share fell to 59%.

Among them, BYD won the championship for six consecutive months with a sales result of 232,000 vehicles in December, growing 2% month-on-month and 150% year-on-year. The sales of pure electric passenger vehicles were 111,939 units, a year-on-year increase of 132%, and a month-on-month decrease of 2%; plug-in hybrid passenger vehicle sales were 122,659 units, a year-on-year increase of 176%, and a month-on-month increase of 6%.

In the entire 2022, BYD sold a total of 16.77 million vehicles, an increase of 209% on the year. In detail, the sales volume of pure electric passenger vehicles was 911,140 units, a year-on-year increase of 184%; and that of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles was 946,239 units, a year-on-year increase of 247%.

Tesla’s global sales totalled 184,000 units in December, down 12% MoM but up 150% YoY, second only to BYD. Tesla led the price cut of NEVs entering 2023. It is expected that Tesla’s car sales will rise sharply after January. At the same time, its first-mover advantage is bound to squeeze the market share of domestic competitors, which may lead to a sales scale-back of most car companies.

German Audi made the top 10 list, with a sales volume of 238,000 vehicles in December, up 31% month-on-month, as consumers rushed to purchase on the count down of expiring national subsidy.

In terms of model performance, Tesla Model Y ranked first again, with global sales of 90,000 vehicles in December, a month-on-month decrease of 20%, and a year-on-year increase of 16%; followed by Wuling Hongguang MINIEV, with global sales of 82,000 vehicles in December, up 13% month-on-month and 48% year-on-year. Driven by the active consumption during the Chinese New Year, highly cost effective models have almost become the first choice for young people, pushing Wuling Hongguang to achieve a new high. A total of 5 models of the BYD family are on the list, among which Song DM is still the "pillar" of BYD's sales. In December, the global sales volume was 61,000 units, an increase of 8% month-on-month and a year-on-year increase of 308%.