China's BYD has sold 537,164 new energy vehicles in the third quarter of this year, surpassing Tesla by nearly 200,000 vehicles and maintaining its position as the world's biggest electric vehicle producer by sales. According to data newly released by Tesla and BYD, Tesla's global sales were 343,830 vehicles in the third quarter, a year-on-year increase of 3%, which was lower than market expectations. Meanwhile, the sales volume of BYD's new energy passenger vehicles was 537,164 units, a year-on-year jump of 187%. In September alone, BYD's NEV sales reached 201,259 units, compared with 71,099 units in the same period last year, a year-on-year surge of 249.56%, according to a filing it published at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
BYD has for the first time dethroned Elon Musk's Tesla as the world's biggest electric vehicle producer by sales in the first half of the year, with global sales of 641,000 vehicles versus the 564,000 units sold by Tesla. The third quarter data, which showed a widened gap, demonstrated BYD has further consolidated its position as the world's biggest electric vehicle producer by sales, industry observers said. They noted that BYD's momentum also underscores China's strengthening position in renewable energy, boasting advantages across much of the supply chain for electric vehicles, batteries, wind as well as solar energy.
From January to August, China's global market share of NEVs has increased to 68%, mainly driven by the strong demand for new energy in China, Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), said.
Chinese carmakers are also actively building vehicle production plants overseas to expand capacity and reduce transportation costs. BYD said in September that it would build its first overseas passenger car plant in Thailand, wholly invested by the company. On September 16, Chinese electric-vehicle maker NIO announced the shipment of its first battery swap station from NIO Power Europe, the company's first overseas plant in Hungary, to Germany, the Global Times reports.
