The electric vehicle (EV) industry in China continues to exhibit remarkable growth, with leading companies expanding their market share. A standout performer is BYD (1211.Hong Kong), the Chinese EV leader, which recently announced its impressive August new energy vehicle deliveries. In August alone, BYD delivered a total of 24,644 units, marking an 86% increase compared to the same period last year.
One of the key drivers of this growth is the significant surge in battery-electric vehicle sales. In August, there were 155,967 units of battery-electric vehicles sold, representing an 88% year-over-year increase and an 11% increase compared to July. This substantial increase clearly demonstrates strong and sustained demand for EVs in China.
It’s important to note that while market growth is beneficial for all EV producers, not all companies are benefiting equally. According to data analyzed by Citi analyst Jeff Chung, Chinese battery-electric vehicle sales have risen approximately 25% year over year. BYD has experienced an outstanding 88% surge in battery-electric vehicle sales between January and August of this year compared to the same period last year. Even Tesla (TSLA), the second-largest player in the Chinese market, has notched an impressive year-over-year sales increase of nearly 60%, having sold around 325,000 units as of July. Sales figures for Tesla in August are still pending and will be released by third parties.
While BYD is currently experiencing faster growth, Tesla’s consistent growth reflects its strong foothold in the Chinese market, making it a formidable competitor. With the strong positive momentum behind the EV industry in China, there is undoubtedly room for both established players and new entrants to thrive.
BYD Shares Rise as Tesla Stock Falls in Early Trading
BYD shares saw a modest increase of 0.4% in overseas trading, while U.S.-listed American depositary receipts (ADRs) rose by 2.5%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experienced gains of 0.5% and 0.3% respectively.
Despite Tesla’s stock falling by approximately 2% during early trading on Friday, the deliveries data from BYD did not play a role in this decline. Rather, it was the release of Tesla’s updated Model 3 sedan in China that influenced the drop in stock value. With an increased price and an enhanced per-charge range of approximately 10%, the market is currently assessing the implications for Tesla’s sales growth and market share in China.
Over the past few months, other electric vehicle (EV) prices have been on a downward trend, with around 25 Chinese EV models experiencing price cuts in August alone. Given this scenario, it is uncertain whether the market can absorb a potential price increase from Tesla. However, other EV manufacturers may view this as an opportunity to halt price reductions or even raise their prices.
Although Tesla’s stock had risen by almost 18% in the previous two weeks leading up to Friday’s trading, the volatility of Tesla’s trading makes it challenging to gauge the market sentiment accurately regarding any specific data point.