China New Energy October 2019: Non-rechargeable hybrids lift Toyota (+30.9%), Honda (+204.3%) in market down -8.9%

The Honda Elysion Hybrid breaks into the New Energy Top 10.

Retail sales of New Energy vehicles in China, including EVs, PHEVs, FCEVs and non-rechargeable hybrid, are back into frank negative in October at -8.7% to 82.774 units, leading to a year-to-date volume up 50.3% to 1.042.607. Toyota (+30.9%) and Honda (+204.3%) take advantage of outstanding sales for their traditional hybrid lineups to cement their lead, again outselling the YTD leader BYD (-63.6%) in dire straits this month. Beijing (-24.4%) and Baojun (new) round up the Top 5. BMW (+9.9%) and GAC NE (+18.9%) also post very solid results in the remainder of the Top 10, but not as impressive as Chery (+96.8%) and NIO (+49.8%) – the EV startup breaking into the Chinese New Energy Top 10 brands for the first time in history. Although down 3 spots on September to #13, Volkswagen (+5812.1%) is now seriously gearing up.

In the models ranking, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid (+5.5%) and Levin Hybrid (+21.9%) snap the top 2 spots ahead of the Honda Accord Hybrid (+90.5%) and Baojun E100 (+796.7%). The Beijing EU5 lands directly in 5th place just as the GAC NE Aion S gains 4 ranks on September to a record #6, stepping above the 3.000 retail sales mark for the first time. The Honda Odyssey Hybrid (#9) and Elysion Hybrid (#10) are the other two new launches in the Top 10, with the NIO ES6 up to #12 and the BYD e2 up to #16.

Previous month: China New Energy September 2019: Traditional hybrids (+89.7%) compensate for freefalling EVs, PHEVs (-27.7%)

One year ago: China New Energy October 2018: BYD leads again, teases Toyota year-to-date

Full October 2019 Top 60 All-brands and Top 160 All-models below.