US electric vehicle giant Tesla has retained its leading position as the top electric vehicle (EV) brand of 2021, as shown from recent industry data. Tesla has maintained the top position of finishing the year strongest among several EV manufacturers since 2018. Amidst claims by a popular vlogger in China that Tesla’s Model 3 had a faulty automatic emergency braking system, the company continues to have a strong showing globally.
Tesla with 170,000 new registrations or purchases for December 2021, was the leader of the pack and was followed in a distant second place by Chinese carmaker BYD with 93,293 registrations. The SGMW* Joint Venture takes the last podium position with 61,306 registrations in December 2021. BYD, it should be noted, is making significant progress in its overseas operations to complement its strong China performance. Some popular brands that were also listed, even with under-par performances include Ford (500 registrations), Geely (11,348 registrations), and Porsche (10,631 registrations). Other names mentioned include Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, and SAIC, with several Chinese EV makers also registering a presence.
Overall, Tesla had a 14% market share in 2021. This also indicated a steady decline since 2019 when it accounted for 17% of the market. On the other hand, BYD seems to be experiencing a feverish growth that saw it triple its deliveries for 2021. It is also making inroads into several overseas markets including the United States where it has laid plans for electric school buses with the capability to provide power for the school while not working. BYD is pursuing an aggressive development campaign that could see it upend Tesla in the future.
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