The Tesla Model Y is the most produced car in China in 2023
- China, the world's leading producer of automobiles (30 million passenger cars and light utility vehicles produced in 2023), is a very special case in terms of automobile production. Production volumes are very high here, compared to what we observe in Europe (see analysis 2024-12 article 8).
- The Tesla Model Y thus approached the 650,000 units produced last year, ahead of four BYD models with a production volume between 350,000 and 450,000 units in 2023 for each of them. We observe that BYD places five of its models in the Chinese Top 10 in 2023.
- Another particularity is that the most produced models in China in 2023 are very recent and their rise has been rapid. At the same time, the former stars of the Top 10 have collapsed, such as the Volkswagen Lavida (third in 2014 and sixth in 2023) and Sagitar (seventh in 2014 and ninth in 2023) or the Great Wall Haval H6 (fifth in 2014 and tenth in 2023 ). Other models are no longer even part of the Top 10, such as the Ford Focus, Nissan Bluebird Sylphy, Volkswagen Jetta or Buick Excelle.
- But the most typical case is the Wuling Hongguang minivan with sales gradually fell from 750,000 units per year in 2014 to less than 100,000 in 2023. The Wuling brand has never been able to return to its former level even after having expanded its range towards small electric vehicles. Wuling produced only 790,000 vehicles in China in 2023 compared to 1,400,000 in 2014 and none of its models are any longer in the top 10. This collapse contributes to the decline in China of GM which integrates Wuling into its global range even if it only owning 34% of its shares.