BYD's new luxury brand Yangwang is selling its first model, the U8, for more than 1 million yuan ($160,000).
CNBC | Evelyn Cheng
BEIJING – BYD Has overtaken Tesla again by the sheer number of new energy vehicles produced in 2023, thanks in part to the Chinese automaker's hybrid vehicles and wide range of offerings in a lower price range.
While Tesla's Model Y was the best-selling all-battery car in China in the six months to November, BYD vehicles accounted for four of the top 10 best-selling such cars in that period. Including hybrid vehicles, seven BYD cars made it into the top 10 list.
This is according to data from the China Passenger Car Association, which is cited by the consumer information site Autohome.
Here are the top five best-selling BYD new energy vehicles in China, according to the data:
1. Qin Plus
SHENYANG, CHINA – APRIL 01: A BYD Qin Plus DM-i sedan is displayed during the Shenyang Auto Show at Shenyang International Exhibition Center on April 1, 2023 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
The Qin Plus, BYD's best-seller – the top seller of all new energy vehicles in China – sold nearly 400 units more than Tesla's Model Y in the six months to November.
The compact car is available as a hybrid and pure battery version. It is part of BYD's Legacy car series, named after Chinese dynasties. Qin Shihuang was the first leader of a unified China and is known for his terracotta tomb for warriors.
Price: 99,800 yuan to 176,800 yuan (13,942 to 24,700 US dollars)
Range: 420 km to 610 km (261 miles to 379 miles)
For comparison, the Model Y has a range of 532 km to 688 km and is currently selling in China for 266,400 to 363,900 yuan ($37,217 to $50,838).
2. Seagull
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 18: A BYD Seagull small electric car is displayed during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
The Seagull is an affordable, boxy hatchback that BYD launched less than a year ago in spring 2023. The battery-only car is available in neon yellow-green, peach, black and white.
Price: 73,800 yuan to 89,800 yuan (10,310 to 12,545 US dollars)
Range: 305 km to 405 km (189 miles to 251 miles)
3. Song Plus NEV
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 18: A BYD Song PLUS DM-i SUV is on display during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
Third among BYD bestsellers is the Song Plus, a compact SUV that is available in hybrid and battery-only versions.
Price: 159,800 yuan to 209,800 yuan ($22,325 to $29,310)
Range: 520 km to 605 km (323 miles to 375 miles)
4. Yuan Plus
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 18: A BYD Yuan PLUS electric SUV is displayed during the 20th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) on April 18, 2023 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
The Yuan Plus from BYD is a compact, purely battery-powered SUV. In the six-month period ending November, it sold nearly 17,000 more units than the Aion Y, a top-selling electric car from state-owned GAC Motor's spin-off brand.
Price: 135,800 yuan to 163,800 yuan (18,972 to 22,883 US dollars)
Range: 430 km to 510 km (267 miles to 316 miles)
5. Dolphin
A BYD Co. Dolphin compact electric vehicle during a test drive in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, August 8, 2023. BYD, the Warren Buffett-backed clean car giant, has sold 1.5 million all-electric and hybrid passenger vehicles this year to July, half way to the annual goal. Photographer: Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
BYD's Dolphin small electric car is another of the company's mass-market vehicles equipped with its internally developed Blade battery.
Price: 116,800 yuan to 139,800 yuan (US$16,317 to US$19,530)
Range: 401 km to 420 km (249 miles to 260 miles)
Read more about electric vehicles, batteries and chips from CNBC Pro
The Blade battery helped BYD's first flagship electric car, the Han sedan, gain popularity.
With a starting price of 209,800 yuan ($29,310) for the battery-only version, the Han is more expensive than most of BYD's other cars.
While most of the company's vehicles cost less, BYD also ventured into the upper tier of the market last year with the Yangwang U8, which had a starting price of more than 1 million yuan ($140,090).
Chinese electric car startups Nio And Xpeng Both have said they plan to launch mass-market brands later this year. Tesla has not made any such announcements yet.