China’s EV market growth continued to slow, with Q2 2023 EV unit sales seeing a rise of only 37% YoY – lower than the global average
Strong results from four of China’s big 5 EV makers were offset by a mix of tepid and disappointing results across a range of key manufacturers
Chinese OEMs look prepped to expand globally, with share of global (ex-China) auto sales set to pass a significant 10% milestone in Q3 2023
SAIC Group and BYD Auto account for the bulk of exports, with the latter well positioned for long-term growth as it enters Europe in earnest later this year
Beijing, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Boston, Seoul – September 8, 2023
According to Counterpoint Research’s latest China Passenger Electric Vehicle Tracker, Q2 2023 battery electric vehicle (BEV) unit sales in the country grew only 37% YoY, lower than the global average of 50%, highlighting a slowdown in domestic growth as the frail Chinese economy impacted demand in the world’s biggest EV market.
BYD Auto and Tesla continued to dominate unfazed, accounting for more than one-third of domestic unit sales. But the market also saw GAC Group establish itself as a solid number three on the back of strong demand for its line of compact Aion sedan and hatchbacks as it aggressively reduced prices in the midst of a price war.
“We’re also seeing strong numbers from several mid-sized domestic players that are having success across a broad range of vehicles – from sub-compact city cars through to long-range luxury cruisers. But many automakers are struggling as the market eases,” notes Ethan Qi, Associate Director. “China’s a big market but there’s also a lot of small carmakers, so any kind of slowdown and you’re probably going to see some consolidation as weaker companies inevitably exit.”
China Passenger EV* Unit Sales Share and YoY Growth by Auto Group
Source: Counterpoint Research China Passenger EV Tracker. *Battery electric vehicles (BEV) only.
Many Chinese OEMs are looking externally for growth and are gaining a foothold in markets like Europe and Asia. “If you exclude China, by far the biggest market for EVs globally is Western Europe. It’s not China, but growth has started to accelerate this quarter,” says Qi. “Right now it’s all about MG, the SAIC-owned British badge that’s spearheading Chinese growth in the region with its compact cars and SUVs. It’s filling a vacuum in the affordable segment, where traditional names are struggling to supply consumers with EVs in that $20,000 – $40,000 sweet spot. This is where Chinese brands have a lot of depth.”
BYD Auto is enjoying success across a diverse group of markets mainly in Asia, but it is gearing up for Europe growth with new models to be shipped into the region later this year.
Ivan Lam, Senior Analyst, Manufacturing, notes, “BYD has all the classic advantages of a Chinese tech company including scale and proximity to the supply chain. What makes them stand out even more is their vertical integration right through to the battery. This helps them dominate at home. And as they expand production outside China, it will also make them a serious threat to global competitors.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re able to grab a lot of share quickly because of the latent demand for affordable EVs in Europe. And a planned 2025 factory will only bolster their advantage over the long term,” muses Lam. “The maxim ‘If you can make it in China, you can make it anywhere’ really does apply here.”
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
Every second BEV sold in the US in Q2 2023 was a Tesla.
BEV sales by foreign brands more than doubled YoY to 81,000 units.
Annual BEV sales are expected to exceed 1 million units by the end of 2023.
New Delhi,London, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – September 4, 2023
US passenger battery electric vehicle* (BEV) sales grew 57% YoY in Q2 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s US Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales Tracker. The US maintained its status as the second-largest BEV market, a position it achieved by surpassing Germany in the previous quarter. BEVs constituted more than 7% of total passenger vehicle sales in the US in Q2. During H1 2023, Tesla’s tally exceeded the combined BEV sales of the next 14 automotive groups by 122,000 vehicles.
Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Abhik Mukherjee said, “Building on the existing momentum, the US automotive industry maintained its upward trajectory in Q2 2023. Total passenger vehicle sales surged by over 16% YoY. BEV sales are on the rise, driven by the EV tax credit and increasing environmental awareness among consumers. US-based brands like Tesla, GM, Ford, Rivian, Lucid and Karma captured nearly three-quarters of total BEV sales. Among foreign-origin brands operating in the US, European manufacturers claimed the largest market share, followed by South Korean and Japanese brands. Total BEV sales by brands of foreign origin, such as Hyundai Kia, Volkswagen Group, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, Toyota, Subaru, Jaguar and Land Rover, jumped by more than 100% YoY to nearly 81,000 units.”
The top five best-selling BEV models in the US accounted for more than 60% of the market’s overall BEV sales during the quarter. Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 together accounted for 55% of the BEV market. The Rivian R1T emerged as the third best-selling model during Q2 2023. This is the first time a Rivian model has secured a position in the top five since the introduction of its first vehicle in late 2021.
Commenting on the market outlook, Research Director Jeff Fieldhack said, “If the current growth trajectory continues, annual BEV sales in the US will exceed 1 million units by the end of 2023. However, rising inventories are expected to become a problem for automakers. EV-related investments by auto OEMs are rapidly growing across the North American continent. These investments, which cover EV production ramps, components and battery, and charging infrastructure, have already crossed $100 billion. Most EV brands are preparing to launch new models or update existing models from 2024 onwards. To address the inventory challenges, OEMs will either need to reduce prices or limit production, both of which will hurt their financial performance.”
*Sales refer to wholesale figures, i.e. deliveries from factories by the respective brand/company.
Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
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Global electric vehicle market highlights:
BEV sales during Q2 2023 grew over 50% YoY.
One in every 10 cars sold during Q2 2023 was a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV).
China remained the leader in global BEV sales followed by USA and Germany.
BEV sales in the USA grew by almost 57% YoY, the highest among the top 3 EV markets.
Tesla Model Y retained its title as the ‘best-selling’ passenger car globally.
With the present growth trajectory, total BEV sales are expected to reach over 10 million units by the end of 2023.
Top Electric Vehicle Brands highlights:
Tesla: Tesla sales soared by 83% YoY during Q2 2023. Tesla Model Y accounted for 64% of Tesla’s global sales. Model Y retained its title as the ‘best-selling’ passenger car model globally.
BYD Auto: During Q2 2023, BYD Auto’s BEV sales grew by 96% YoY, faster than Tesla. BYD Yuan Plus (or Atto 3) was the best-selling BYD model followed by BYD Dolphin and BYD Seagull. BYD Seagull was introduced in April 2023 during the Shanghai auto expo. BYD Seagull also ranked #9 among the top 10 best-selling BEV models globally. BYD exported over 35,000 EVs during Q2 2023. Almost two-thirds of its exported BEVs were sold in Thailand, Israel and Australia.
Volkswagen Group: BEV sales of VW group grew by 48% YoY during Q2 2023. VW ID.4, Audi Q4-etron and VW ID.3 are the top 3 best-selling models of the group, accounting for nearly 50% of the group’s total BEV sales.
* Our present analysis takes Pure Battery EVs (BEVs) into account. We have removed Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs) from our analysis to avoid confusion.
For our detailed research on the global EV sales market in Q2 2023, click here.
For a more detailed electric vehicle model sales tracker, click below:
Global Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales Tracker: Q1 2018 – Q2 2023
This report tracks the global passenger vehicle sales* by brand and by model across 23 regions (China, USA, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Japan, India, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, ROE, LATAM, MEA and Oceania) quarterly. The report will help to understand regional trends, brand dynamics and type of EV penetration. The period covered in this report is from Q1 2018 to Q2 2023.
*Sales here refers to wholesale figures, i.e., deliveries out of factories by respective brands/companies.
*Under electric vehicles, the report only considers battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are not included.
Table of Contents:
• Definition
• Pivot Table
• Flatfile
Note: Numbers based on passenger vehicles only. For EVs, we consider only BEVs and PHEVs. Hybrid EVs and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are not included in this study.
Ford continues to demonstrate its understanding of the opportunity that it needs to address with the migration of its business model to subscription and the recruitment of Peter Stern from Apple to run its Integrated Services division.
The company is taking a leaf out of Tesla’s book and will offer its BlueCruise advanced driver assistance products on a subscription-only basis. This is not as counterintuitive as it sounds as new car buyers will be able to purchase the service for three years with an upfront payment of $2,100. Since it will be marketed as an option in the usual way, it is unlikely to change the purchase experience of new car buyers very much. Furthermore, as so many vehicles are purchased on leasing schemes, there is a good chance that the buyer of the new vehicle would have changed the vehicle before the three-year period has elapsed.
This is how Ford seeks to introduce users to the idea of subscription, but there remain some features that will never work on a subscription basis. Two of these are Mercedes’ idea of asking customers to pay $1,200 per year to improve the driving performance of their EVs and BMW’s idea of asking customers to pay $180 per year for heated seats. This is a very common strategy employed by consumer electronics companies and has also been used to good effect by Tesla.
However, the vehicle-buying public has been paying one-off fees for hardware options for decades and I suspect that there is going to be a lot of resistance to paying $15 a month to keep one’s bottom warm in winter. Hence, the right approach is to charge for the options exactly as they have been for years and to offer subscriptions for services rather than products.
Advanced driver assistance sits right in the middle as it requires extra hardware to be present but is almost entirely driven by software which will need constant updating. Furthermore, much like a chauffeur that needs to be paid on a monthly basis, it is not a very large conceptual jump to be seen as a service rather than a hardware option.
Tesla has already prepared the market for this and so Ford has a pretty good chance of winning adoption with this model. Ford has also recruited Peter Stern who spent six years at Apple (Time Warner before that) running its subscription services.
The idea here is obviously to ensure that when it comes to Digital Life in the vehicle, Ford is ready with an appealing option for each activity with which the user will engage. This will go from a media consumption offering to transport-related services such as smart parking, which saves the user from driving round and round looking for a parking spot.
The market for digital services in the vehicle could be very large indeed especially as consumer spending on vehicle transportation declines over the next 20 years. Ford is again doing the right thing in attempting to address this market, but it will need to ensure that its user experience remains relevant in the vehicle as Apple and Google will be only too happy to sell their services and those of third parties via their user experiences instead.
This is the key challenge that all OEMs face over the next 20 years and Ford remains one of the few automakers outside of Tesla that appear to understand what is happening to their industry and seem to be addressing it in the right way.
(This guest post was written by Richard Windsor, our Research Director at Large. This first appeared on Radio Free Mobile. All views expressed are Richard’s own.)
The US remains the top market for Tesla followed by China and Europe.
Aiming to develop an in-house AI ecosystem, Tesla has started building its own Dojo training supercomputer.
With this growth trajectory, Tesla is expected to achieve sales of around 1.9 million units by the end of 2023.
Tesla achieved remarkable results in Q2 2023, with its revenue growing 47% YoY to reach the record-breaking figure of nearly $25 billion. The company’s vehicle deliveries too hit a record at 466,915, growing 83% YoY. The US retained its position as Tesla’s largest market, contributing to 37.6% of the total sales, while China and Europe followed closely behind. Global price cuts for the Model Y and Model 3, along with tax subsidies in the US and China, were two of the biggest drivers for Tesla’s Q2 sales.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, during the earnings call, discussed a few key things like the long-awaited Cybertruck deliveries, Tesla’s advantage in competitive pricing of vehicles and the possibilities of attaining complete FSD:
Cybertruck delivery outlook
CEO:“Demand is so – so far, off the hook, you can’t even see the hook. So, that’s really not an issue. I do want to emphasize that the Cybertruck has a lot of new technology in it. Like a lot… So, always very difficult to predict the – the ramp initially, but I think we’ll be making them in high volume next year, and we will be delivering the car this year.”
Soumen Mandal’s analyst take: “Musk is certainly hyping the Cybertruck, not that it needs to anymore, but there is also significant expectation setting with discussions on internal production and supply chain hurdles. Is this another Model Y? That’s a tough act to follow, but the Cybertruck does bring a slew of unique parts and processes. So, longer term, we expect to see another products flywheel off from it.”
Tesla’s price cuts for its vehicles
CEO: “And we, you know — we just — we just course according to what the mood of the of the public is, you know. Buying a new car is a — it’s a big decision for vast majority of people. So, you know, anytime there’s economic uncertainty, people generally pause on new car buying, at least to see to see what happens.
And, you know — and then, obviously, another challenge is the — the interest rate environment. As interest rates rise, the affordability of anything bought with that decreases, so effectively increasing the price of the car. So, when interest rates rise dramatically, we actually have to reduce the price of the car because the — the interest payments increase the price of the car. So — and this is at least — at least up until recently was to believe the sharpest interest rate rise in history. So, we had to do something about that. And if someone’s got a crystal ball for the global economy, I really appreciate it. If I could borrow that crystal ball.”
Soumen Mandal’s analyst take: “Tesla’s strong supply chain and reduced cost of production due to low raw material cost, especially for lithium, has encouraged the company to reduce prices of its vehicles. Alongside what Musk described as ‘interest rate rises’, Tesla’s price reduction has made all variants of the Model 3 and Model Y eligible for IRA tax credit in the US, where it will benefit in the long term. So, macroeconomic policies and geopolitical relations play a crucial role in deciding such price reductions, incentives or discounts.”
Autonomy (FSD): Timing
CEO: “…the reason I’ve been optimistic [on achieving full self-driving] is what it tends to look like is the — we’ll make rapid progress with the new version of — of FSD. But — but then, it will curve over logarithmically. So — so, at first, like, a logarithmic curve looks like, you know, just sort of fairly straight upward line, diagonally up. And so, if you extrapolate that, then you — you have a great thing. But then because it’s actually logarithmic, it curves over. And then, there have been a series of logarithmic curves. Now, I know I’m the boy who cried FSD, but man, I think — I think we’ll be better than human by the end of this year.”
Abhik Mukherjee’s analyst take: “Almost every auto OEMs are spending on autonomy. Tesla is also walking in the same direction and is building an in-house AI service that includes in-house real-time data sets, neural Net training, vehicle hardware and software. Tesla is expecting to reach perfect FSD soon and for this, it is also building a Dojo supercomputer. Early development of FSD will give Tesla a massive first-mover advantage over its competitors. We assume Tesla FSD might also get adopted by other automakers, like Tesla NACS is being adopted.”
Autonomy (FSD): Disruption
CEO:“It’s not about getting more share. It’s just that you can think of every car that we — that we sell or produce that — that — that has a full Autonomy capability as actually something that, in the future, may be worth as much as five times what it is today…If you’ve got an autonomous — if that vehicle is able to operate autonomously and — and use — be used in either dedicated or autonomous or partially autonomous like — like, Airbnb, like maybe sometimes you allow your car to be used by others, sometimes you want to use it exclusively, just like, you know, Airbnb, you know, doing Airbnb with a room in your house… So, I think it’s sort of it would be — I think it — it does make sense to sacrifice margins in favor of making more vehicles because we think, in the not-too-distant future, they will have a dramatic valuation increase. I think the Tesla fleet value increase to the point at which we can upload full self — you know, full self-driving and it’s approved by regulators, will be the single biggest step change in asset value maybe in history.”
Abhik Mukherjee’s analyst take:“Although we are excited about autonomous vehicles, Tesla currently is a bit far from achieving perfect FSD. Incidents involving Tesla vehicles are frequently reported. Currently, Tesla FSD is only available in the US and it will need a lot of approvals from regulators to ensure 100% safety before it can be rolled out to other regions, especially in Europe where regulations are much stricter. Though achieving complete FSD could disrupt the market in future, currently Tesla must work to make its FSD software incident-free.”
Financial highlights
In the automotive segment, Tesla achieved revenue of $21.26 billion, an annual growth of 7%. Around 4% of this revenue was derived from sales of regulatory credits and automotive leasing.
In addition to the automotive segment, Tesla experienced significant growth in its other businesses, such as energy generation and services, with revenues surging by 57% YoY to reach $3.65 billion in Q2 2023. Tesla deployed 7 GWh of energy storage and 66 MWh of solar panels during the quarter.
Tesla achieved a gross profit of $4.53 billion, a 7.1% YoY increase. High vehicle deliveries, low cost of production due to lower raw material costs and IRA tax credits for EVs in the US contributed to this result. But the low ASP of vehicles due to the voluntary global price cuts also hurt Q2 profitability.
Tesla’s Q2 operating profit was 62%, a decline of 1.8 percentage points sequentially. The reduction can be attributed primarily to the significant expenses incurred in ramping up the production for Cybertruck, Tesla’s in-house 4680 cells and the development of AI through its Dojo training computer. Other additional costs were associated with a new ‘Get to Know Your Tesla’ UI and facelifts for the Model 3 and Model Y.
Outlook
With the current growth trajectory, we expect Tesla deliveries will reach around 1.9 million by the end of 2023. Its robust supply chain and vertically integrated production have given Tesla a competitive advantage.
Other growth opportunities are arising from the adoption of Tesla’s NACS charging standard by several OEMs including Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar and Nissan for the North American market. This allows these auto companies to leverage Tesla’s extensive network of charging stations across North America, enhancing the convenience and accessibility of electric vehicle charging for their customers. But it also gives Tesla the option to increase its revenue by charging licensing fees from OEMs adopting its proprietary NACS ports.
Thailand accounted for over 75% of BEV sales in the SEA region during Q1 2023.
Three out of every four BEVs sold were from a Chinese automaker.
The top three groups accounted for 68% of BEV sales.
BYD’s Atto 3 was the best-selling BEV.
New Delhi,London, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – July 20, 2023
Southeast Asia’s# (SEA’s) passenger battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales* grew by almost 10 times YoY in Q1 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s SEA Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales Tracker. The share of BEVs in total passenger vehicle sales experienced significant growth in Q1 2023, reaching 3.8% compared to a mere 0.3% one year ago. Thailand emerged as the leading country, capturing over 75% of the BEV sales, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam. Thailand also boasted the highest proportion of BEVs in total passenger vehicle sales, followed by Singapore and Vietnam. However, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales saw a modest YoY growth of 5.8%.
Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Abhilash Gupta said, “Thailand’s government-led efforts to promote EV sales have yielded positive outcomes, while Indonesia and Vietnam are also performing well in the region. However, Malaysia, Philippines and Myanmar require additional regulatory support and encouragement to foster EV growth. Despite overall passenger vehicle sales remaining relatively stagnant, the sales of BEVs have experienced a significant and rapid expansion. Besides, the market for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) has experienced remarkable growth in SEA, playing a pivotal role in the transition from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs.”
Gupta added, “Chinese auto groups are experiencing rapid growth and outpacing their competitors in the SEA region, with their market share increasing from 38% a year ago to nearly 75%. In Q1 2023, BYD Group emerged as the BEV leader in the SEA region, capturing the majority of sales, followed by Hozon New Energy, and SAIC Group. These top three groups collectively accounted for over 68% of the BEV market. In the PHEV market, Geely Holding Group claimed the top position, followed by BMW Group, and Mercedes-Benz Group.”
BYD’s Atto 3 was the best-selling BEV across SEA, followed by the Neta V and Tesla Model Y. In PHEVs, Volvo’s XC60 sold the most, followed by the BMW 3 series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Commenting on the market outlook, Senior Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “In addition to offering subsidies and tax incentives, Thailand’s government has set ambitious goals to position itself as a global hub for EV production. The country’s EV sector has witnessed a significant rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the past year. Notably, several Chinese automakers, including Great Wall Motors, BYD, Hozon New Energy and Changan Automobile, have shown interest in establishing or have already commenced the construction of production facilities in Thailand. Similarly, Indonesia announced a subsidy package in March 2023 to promote the purchase and manufacturing of EVs, with a special focus on increasing local production. This move is expected to further accelerate the production and sales of EVs in the region.”
Mandal added, “The Chinese presence in the SEA EV market is poised to strengthen as they establish regional manufacturing bases, thereby driving further growth in the EV sector. The overall sales of EVs are experiencing an upward trajectory in the SEA region. The outlook appears promising, and there is an expectation that the share of BEVs in total vehicle sales will reach 6% by the end of this year.”
*Sales refer to wholesale figures, i.e. deliveries from factories by the respective brands/companies.
#SEA here includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media, and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects, and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
BYD continued to lead China’s increasingly competitive EV market.
The market share of foreign brands declined by 4% points.
EV sales are expected to exceed 8 million units in 2023.
Beijing, New Delhi,London, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Seoul – June 27, 2023
China’s passenger electric vehicle* (EV) sales grew 29% YoY in Q1 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s China Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales Tracker. Battery EVs (BEVs) made up nearly 70% of the sales. There was a remarkable 88% YoY surge in plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) sales as well. Recently, PHEVs have been experiencing increased popularity in China. BYD secured its leading position with 79% sales growth and 9.8% points increase in market share YoY. The top 10 automotive groups, encompassing 28 brands, collectively accounted for over 80% of the total passenger EV sales.
Commenting on the market dynamics, Senior Research Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “The discontinuation of the 13-year-old New Energy Vehicle (NEV) purchase subsidy, paired with the Tesla-triggered price war, had an adverse impact on domestic EV start-ups. Especially, smart EV brands such as NIO, Xpeng and Neta reported disappointing sales figures compared to the previous quarter. Foreign brands, like Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Hyundai and Nissan, experienced a combined 4% points decrease in market share compared to a year ago. However, Tesla stands out as an exception. Other foreign brands have struggled to offer strong competition to domestic brands. Furthermore, Chinese brands such as BYD Auto, Dongfeng Motors, FAW, Great Wall Motors and Geely Auto are venturing beyond domestic borders to establish their presence across Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.”
Eight of the top 10 best-selling EV models were of Chinese origin in Q1 2023. Except Tesla, no foreign models were able to secure a position in the top 10. The top 10 best-selling models collectively accounted for 46% of China’s passenger EV sales. Moreover, all the top 5 best-selling PHEV models in Q1 2023 were manufactured by BYD Auto.
Discussing the market outlook, Associate Director Brady Wangsaid, “The growth trajectory of China’s passenger EV market is expected to continue throughout 2023. Other supportive policies have been implemented to boost the market’s growth after the elimination of NEV purchase subsidies. In May, China’s Development and Reform Commission released a strategic document aimed at promoting EV adoption in rural areas. This will encourage auto manufacturers to introduce more affordable models, enhance sales systems, and facilitate trade-in services for rural consumers. We expect China’s EV sales to exceed8 million units by the end of 2023.”
*Sales refer to wholesale figures, i.e. deliveries from factories by the respective brand/company.
*For EVs, we consider only BEVs and PHEVs. Hybrid EVs and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are not included in this study.
Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
Tesla sold more EVs than the next 18 automotive groups combined in Q1 2023.
Brands like Hyundai, Audi, BMW, Volvo and Nissan remain ineligible for the EV tax credit.
US EV sales expected to reach near 1.5 million units in 2023 if economic conditions continue to improve.
New Delhi,London, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – June 15, 2023
US passenger electric vehicle* (EV) sales soared over 79% YoY in Q1 2023, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s USA Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales Tracker. This strong growth helped the US surpass Germany to become the world’s second-largest EV market, the largest being China. Battery EVs (BEV) accounted for 81% of all passenger EV sales in the US while plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) made up the rest. In Q1 2023, Tesla’s sales outperformedthe combined sales of the next 18 automotive groups, which collectively represent 34 automotive brands.
Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Abhik Mukherjee said, “Total US passenger vehicle sales improved YoY in Q1 2023. The US economy is showing signs of recovery with lower inflation and improving consumer sentiment. Although EV sales saw strong growth during the quarter, those of conventional passenger vehicles remained flat. One reason was the introduction of an EV tax credit of up to $7,500, which has played a crucial role in driving up EV sales. Currently, around 20 models in total offered by Tesla, GM, Ford, Stellantis, Rivian and Volkswagen are eligible for the tax credit. However, strict eligibility conditions set by the US government have excluded brands such as Hyundai, Nissan, BMW, Audi and Volvo from benefiting from the EV tax credit scheme in 2023.”
The top 10 EV models in the US accounted for 69% of overall passenger EV sales during the quarter. Tesla’s Model Y retained its title of the best-selling EV model, while it also earned the title of best-selling passenger carmodel globally. Apart from BEVs, PHEVs are also gaining popularity in the US.
Commenting on the market outlook, Research Director Jeff Fieldhack said, “With the US economy showing signs of recovery, the auto industry, particularly the EV sector, is being helped by government policies announced last year. Tax credits for new and even used EVs are helping consumers, while investments in streamlining the EV battery supply chain, the establishment of a robust network of EV charging stations and the setting up of battery recycling plants nationwide will all support EV sales growth. Therefore, we expect US EV sales to reach around 1.5 million units in 2023 if economic conditions continue improving.”
*Sales refer to wholesale figures, i.e. deliveries from factories by the respective brand/company.
*For EVs, we consider only BEVs and PHEVs. Hybrid EVs and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are not included in this study.
Feel free to reach us at press@counterpointresearch.com for questions regarding our latest research and insights.
Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
One in every seven cars sold during Q1 2023 was an EV.
Tesla Model Y becomes the best-selling passenger car model globally for the first time ever.
EV sales are expected to reach over 14.5 million units by the end of 2023.
New Delhi,London, San Diego, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul – June 7, 2023
Global passenger electric vehicle* (EV) sales in Q1 2023 rose 32% YoY, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Global Passenger Electric Vehicle Model Sales Tracker. One in every seven cars sold during Q1 2023 was an EV. Battery EVs (BEVs) accounted for 73% of all EV sales during the quarter, while plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) made up the rest.
The US surpassed Germany to become the world’s second-largest EV market in Q1 2023 while China remained the leader. In China, EV sales experienced a remarkable 29% YoY growth, despite a 12% decline in overall sales of passenger vehicles in the country. In the US, EV sales soared over 79% YoY during the quarter. The top 10 automotive groups, encompassing 48 automotive brands, dominated the global EV market in Q1 2023, capturing three-fourths of the total global EV sales.
Commenting on the market dynamics, Research Analyst Abhik Mukherjee said, “Global EV sales were largely driven by China with 56% of total EV sales in Q1 2023 coming from this market. The elimination of the NEV purchase subsidy in China resulted in lower-than-expected EV sales in January 2023. Tesla slashed prices for its models globally in January, following which other automotive brands announced similar cuts for their car models starting in February, which led to an improvement in EV sales. During February and March, almost 40 automakers, including BYD, NIO, Xpeng, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes–Benz, Nissan, Honda and Toyota, reduced their vehicle prices by a couple of hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, which eventually stoked a competitive price war in China. Initially, it was thought that the price war would end soon and that auto OEMs would benefit from increased sales. However, as the price war continues to stretch, several automakers in China have reported reduced earnings and even losses.”
The top 10 EV models accounted for 37% of the total passenger EV sales in Q1 2023. Tesla’s Model Y remained the best-selling model globally followed by Tesla’s Model 3 and BYD’s Song. In Q1 2023, Tesla’s Model Y achieved the notable distinction of becoming the best-selling passenger car model worldwide, surpassing even conventional fuel vehicles.
Commenting on the market outlook, Senior Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “Although sales of the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles remained stable in Q1 2023 compared with that in the year-ago period, the significant growth in EV sales indicates a rapid transition from traditional vehicles to EVs.”
“By the end of 2023, global EV sales are expected to surpass 14.5 million units, according to our forecast. With the implementation of the EV tax credit subsidy in the US, EV sales in the country are projected to significantly increase this year. To meet the eligibility criteria for the tax credit, automotive OEMs are moving to partner with battery suppliers and establish battery manufacturing plants across North America. Consequently, the US is poised to surpass the EU in the race to build EV batteries.”
*Sales refer to wholesale figures, i.e. deliveries from factories by the respective brand/company.
*For EVs, we consider only BEVs and PHEVs. Hybrid EVs and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are not included in this study.
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Background
Counterpoint Technology Market Research is a global research firm specializing in products in the TMT (technology, media and telecom) industry. It services major technology and financial firms with a mix of monthly reports, customized projects and detailed analyses of the mobile and technology markets. Its key analysts are seasoned experts in the high-tech industry.
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Commenting on the market outlook, 
