These were the best-selling electric cars in the world in 2022

Tesla takes the top two spots, followed by the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. But there are many surprises.

After months of research and data collection from many markets around the world, I finally got the full ranking of pure electric car sales for the whole of 2022. Some of the results are as expected, although there are interesting surprises that may portend new changes in the coming years.

Tesla Superstar with Model Y and Model 3

As expected, the Tesla Model Y dominated the global ranking, even ahead of the Model 3, the world’s best-selling electric car in 2021. The small SUV has found more than 747,000 new customers, 91 percent more than the previous year. . Almost half of the Model Y (44%) was sold in China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), while US and Canadian volume accounted for 34% of the total.

Registrations in Europe reached 19 percent with a volume of more than 416 percent. Sales in Southeast Asia-Pacific follow with 13,400 units, and in Japan-Korea with 9,600 units.

Tesla has mirrored in the electric vehicle segment what Toyota did for global sales. The Japanese brand placed two of its models in the top positions of the world ranking, and there are two Tesla models on the podium of the global ranking of electric vehicles.

The Tesla Model 3 took second place with over 482,000 units, of which 47% were sold in the US-Canada, 28% in China (again, including Hong Kong and Taiwan) and 19% in europe Unlike the Model Y, this sedan was down 3 percent, hurt by the popularity of its SUV twin. These two models accounted for 95 percent of Tesla’s global volumes by 2022.

Chinese models accelerate

The third position was occupied by the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. This microcar has become the benchmark for electric cars in China, the world’s largest electric vehicle market. Units sold were 443,400, so not far behind the Model 3. Part of this car’s popularity is linked to its price, but also to the fact that it has become an ideal mobility solution for many consumers in the china

The Chinese electric microcar trend has just begun and is expected to reach other markets in the coming years. Affordable, attractive and competitive cars may be the only option for many people looking for an affordable new car in the coming years. China, unlike Europe, is ready with its products.

Hongguang isn’t the only one shining in the rankings. The BYD Dolphin, an interesting small car for the B segment, sold just over 200,000 units. Dolphin, more than Wuling, has greater potential in overseas markets. This may also apply to the BYD Yuan Plus, also known as the BYD Atto 3, an attractive compact SUV that is rising rapidly in some countries.

What about European electric cars?

The Volkswagen ID.4 was the most popular European electric car last year. Its volume rose 53 percent to 175,600 units, distributed 47 percent in China-Hong Kong-Taiwan, 39 percent in Europe and 13 percent in the US-Canada.

Further down the chart, the Volkswagen ID.3 sold 77,900 units, up just 4%, with 68% in Europe. The Fiat 500 was the third best-selling electric vehicle, followed by the BMW iX3, Polestar 2, Skoda Enyaq, Dacia Spring, Peugeot 208, Mini Hatch and the Volvo XC40 BEV.

In any case, the European models are far from global models like the Tesla Model 3 and Y and the upcoming Chinese models. This is a wake-up call for the European car industry as a whole.

The author of the article, Felipe Muñoz, is a specialist in the automotive industry at JATO Dynamics.