The passenger car market in China expanded by 29% year-over-year in August, thanks to registration tax reductions for some ICE models (engines below 2,000cc and price up to 300,000 CNY / $42,100), as well as ongoing growth of plug-in models.

The plug-in electric car segment almost doubled compared to a year ago to a near record level.

According to EV Volumes’ data, shared by Jose Pontes, some 552,000 new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered in China in August, which is 92% more than a year ago and about 60% of the global plug-in car market.

Market share of plug-ins improved to 30%, including 22% BEVs and 8% PHEVs. We guess that in both cases, the number will be even better later this year.

Results for the month:

BEVs: about 412,000 (up 80%) and 22% share
PHEVs: about 140,000 (up 137%) and 8% share
Total: 552,195 (up 92%) and 30% share

So far this year, over 3.4 million new passenger plug-in electric cars were registered in China – that’s more than in the entire year 2021.

BEVs: about *2.63 million and 20% share
PHEVs: about *0.79 million and 6% share
Total: 3,412,938 and 26% share

In August, BYD continued to be the main electrification force in China, putting several of its models in the top 10 for plug-ins (all plug-in versions counted together).

Interestingly, both the Song and Qin families were above the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, with the Tesla Model Y just off the podium.

The BYD Song is currently really strong with 36,791 PHEVs and 5,688 BEV registrations (new record levels). Who knows how high it might go – maybe even 50,000 per month total?

Overall, the entire market is booming and it appears that most of the models set new or near-record results.

Top 10 for the month:

1. BYD Song Plus (BEV + PHEV): 42,479
2. BYD Qin Plus (BEV + PHEV): 35,688
3. Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV: 33,866
4. Tesla Model Y: 31,796
5. BYD Han (BEV + PHEV): 25,987
6. BYD Dolphin: 23,469
7. BYD Yuan Plus BEV: 18,006
8. GAC Aion S: 11,683
9. GAC Aion Y: 11,012
10. Hozon Neta V EV: 10,236

* BEV and PHEV versions of the same models were counted together in the source.

Year-to-date, the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV remains the market leader in terms of volume, but its advantage over the BYD Song (BEV + PHEV) decreased.

The BYD Qin family, on the other hand, strengthened above the Tesla Model Y, despite Tesla having a really good month.

Top 10 year-to-date:

1. Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV: 278,822
2. BYD Song Plus (BEV + PHEV): 239,354
3. BYD Qin Plus (BEV + PHEV): 198,179
4. Tesla Model Y: 172,711
5. BYD Han (BEV + PHEV): 148,382
6. BYD Dolphin: 102,476
7. BYD Yuan Plus BEV: 92,091
8. BYD Tang (BEV + PHEV): 77,489
9. Li Xiang One EREV: 75,397
10. Chery QQ Ice Cream: 72,094

Brands

If we compare brands, it turns out that BYD is on track to take a third of the market.

Top brands by share in the plug-in segment year-to-date:

• BYD: 28.4%
• SAIC-GM-Wuling: 9.1%
• Tesla: 7.1%
• Chery: 4.8%
• GAC: 4.5%
• Volkswagen: 3.8%
• Geely: 3.6%

Top automotive groups by share in the plug-in segment year-to-date:

• BYD: 28.4%
• SAIC: 12.0%
  including SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture (between SAIC, GM and Liuzhou Wuling Motors)
• Tesla: 7.1%
• Geely-Volvo: 5.4%
• Chery: 4.9%
• GAC: 4.7%
• Volkswagen Group: 4.3%