China eclipses US in the global EV stakes
12 June 2025
China led the way as the global new electric vehicle (EV) market continued to improve in April. Autovista24 special content editor Phil Curry examines the top-performing battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
The global new BEV market grew by 39.4% year on year in April, with 1,030,468 units delivered. In total, 291,156 more all-electric models took to roads around the world, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. This marked the powertrain’s 13th consecutive month of growth, highlighting the increased adoption of the technology.
Meanwhile, the global PHEV market jumped by 34% year on year with 567,986 deliveries. This meant 144,119 more new models found their way to customers around the world.
Across the first four months of 2025, BEV sales were up by 39%, reaching approximately 3.79 million units. The PHEV market saw growth of 30.9% in the same timeframe, with 2.1 million units delivered.
China’s global domination ongoing
Between January and April, China led the way in both global BEV and PHEV registrations. The country was responsible for 57.5% of all-electric deliveries, while its plug-in hybrid market represented 69.4% of the global total.
The US, the world’s second-largest automotive market, trailed far behind. In the first four months of 2025, the US accounted for just 9.8% of global BEV sales. Meanwhile, its PHEV deliveries made up only 5.4% of the worldwide total.
After the US, Germany placed third, with 4.2% of BEV and 4.2% of PHEV totals. The UK was fourth, taking 3.8% of all-electric, and 3.2% of plug-in hybrid volumes. France ended April in fifth on the BEV table, accounting for 2.7% of all deliveries. Meanwhile, 1.4% of all PHEV deliveries were made in Spain.
Market leading performance
The world’s best-selling BEV in April was the Tesla Model Y. It saw 57,219 units registered in the month, yet this was a year-on-year decline, of 19.1%. The all-electric vehicle held 5.6% of the global total, down by four percentage points (pp) compared to April 2024.
In second was the BYD Seagull, known as the Dolphin Mini in some markets. It achieved its highest monthly placing of the year so far, with 37,769 deliveries. This represented year-on-year growth of 16.7%. However, the model’s market share dipped by 0.7pp, to 3.7%, due to increased competition.
Rounding out the top three was the Wuling Mini, with 36,341 units making their way to customers. This represented a 192% improvement on April 2024, confirming a strong start to 2025 for the model. Its 3.5% hold of the total global BEV market was up by 1.8pp.
Fourth place went to the Geely Geome Xingyuan, with 36,270 registrations, just 71 units behind the Wuling Mini. In its eighth month on the market, it represented 3.5% of the BEV total.
The Xiaomi SU7 ended April in fifth, thanks to 28,615 deliveries, a 305.4% year-on-year improvement. This meant it also increased its market share, by 1.8pp, to 2.8%.
Strong global performances
In sixth position, the BYD Yuan Plus, known as the Atto 3 in some markets, recorded 27,225 registrations. This marks an improvement of 4.8%, compared to April 2024. Its 2.6% market share was down by 0.9pp, however.
The Wuling Bingo ended April in seventh with 25,620 deliveries, a 111% increase, as the carmaker continued its rapid rate of improvement. This meant its market share also increased, by 1.1pp, to 2.5% of the global BEV total.
The Tesla Model 3 endured its worst month of the year so far, ending April in eighth place. The 23,734-unit total was 8.9% down compared to the same period last year, meaning its market share dropped. It ended the month with 2.3% of all BEV deliveries, down 1.2pp.
Ninth position went to the Geely Panda Mini with 17,831 units, representing an 119.5% increase in deliveries. A market share of 1.7% marked an improvement of 0.6pp compared to April 2024.
Finally, the BYD Yuan Up, known as the Atto 2 in some markets, took 10th with 17,220 registrations. This was a 99.6% increase, while its market share rose by 0.5pp, to hold 1.7% of the world’s BEV market.
Tesla remains on top
Across the first four months of 2025, there has been no change in the top three models since March. The Tesla Model Y continued to be the world’s best-selling BEV, with 259,152 units delivered. This equates to a 6.8% market share.
Despite a difficult month, the Tesla Model 3 remained in second, with 143,358 registrations and a 3.8% market share. The BYD Seagull ended the four-month period in third, with 127,817 units delivered, and a 3.4% hold of the yearly total.
Thanks to its impressive performance in April, the Wuling Mini jumped one position into fourth, with 125,526 registrations across the first four months of the year. This gave the model a 3.3% market share.
Only 41 units behind, the Geely Geome Xingyuan dropped to fifth, with 125,485 deliveries, and a similar 3.3% market share. Despite a strong start to the year, the model has lost ground to its global rivals. However, it should remain in the top five best-selling BEVs a while longer.
Sixth went to the Xiaomi SU7, with 104,536 registrations and a 2.8% market share. In seventh, the BYD Yuan Plus jumped up one place, with 85,015 deliveries and a 2.2% hold of the BEV total. Its stablemate, the Yuan Up, dropped to eighth, with 75,311 units taking to the road, a 2% share of the market.
The Wuling Bingo returned to the top 10 in ninth position, with 65,772 units and a 1.7% market share. In 10th was the Xpeng M03, dropping one place with 61,340 deliveries to customers, a 1.6% hold of all BEV registrations.
China leads the PHEV market
The global PHEV market was dominated by Chinese brands in April. Six of the top 10 models came from BYD alone, as the brand continued to lead the powertrain sector.
The BYD Song Plus, known as the Seal U in some regions, was the best-selling PHEV in the world during April. It achieved 31,920 sales, a year-on-year increase of 29%. However, due to increased competition, its market share dipped by 0.2pp, to 5.6%.
Its stablemate, the Song Pro, ended the month in second, with 19,702 deliveries. Yet this was a decline of 23.7% compared to April 2024, as internal competition intensified. The result meant its market share fell by 2.6pp, to 3.5%.
Completing a clean sweep of the top three for BYD, the Qin Plus saw 18,709 units take to the road. The model led the PHEV market in the same period last year, and its result in April was a 45% decline. This meant its market share plummeted by 4.7pp, to 3.3%.
The Li Auto L6 took fourth with 16,755 registrations. This was a 603.7% increase, although April 2024 represented the model’s first month on the market. Therefore it achieved a 2.9% market share, up from just 0.6% a year prior.
In fifth was the Chery Fengyun T6, also known as the Tansuo 06 in some markets. This was the model’s best-ever global monthly total since it went on sale in volume during July 2024. It represented 2.8% of the world’s PHEV total in the month.
Newer models on the rise
The BYD Seal 06 took sixth position in the global chart during April, thanks to 14,511 deliveries. In its 12th month on sale, it achieved a 2.6% share of the market. Also in its 12th month, the BYD Qin L held seventh with 12,131 registrations, and a 2.1% market share.
Eighth went to the Aito M9, with 11,288 units finding their way to customers. This was a 13.9% decline year on year. The model’s market share also fell as a result, down by 1.1pp to 2% of total PHEV deliveries.
In ninth position was the BYD Song L, which did not start to achieve significant sales volumes until July 2024. With 11,152 units delivered in April, it also held a 2% share of the PHEV market.
Finally, the Galaxy Starship rounded out the top 10 with 11,114 registrations, in just its sixth month on the market. This result also gave the model a 2% hold of total global PHEV deliveries.
BYD dominance continues
BYD controlled much of the global PHEV market in the first four months of 2025. It held all of the top five positions and eight of the top 10 places.
Leading the way was the Song Plus, which has enjoyed a strong start to 2025. The model reached a total of 109,952 units between January and April, representing 5.2% of the powertrain’s total in the period.
The Song Pro held second with 88,962 units delivered, and a 4.2% market share. There was a change of position in third. The BYD Qin Plus took advantage of a better April result than the Qin L to jump ahead of its stablemate. This was despite a large decline in registrations for the older model.
The Qin Plus saw 71,685 registrations in the four-month period, giving it a 3.4% market share. The Qin L, in fourth, achieved 66,062 deliveries in the timeframe, with a 3.1% market share. In fifth was the BYD Seal 06, with 61,402 sales and a 2.9% market share.
Close behind
Just 300 units behind in sixth was the Li Auto L6, which closed the gap significantly to the top five in April. Its 61,102-unit total also represented 2.9% of the market. Seventh went to the Galaxy Starship 7, with 53,400 units registered, a 2.5% hold of the global PHEV total.
The BYD Song L jumped one spot to eighth, with 43,298 registrations giving it a 2.1% share of the market. The BYD Han also improved by one spot, ending the four-month period in ninth with 41,201 deliveries, and a 2% market share.
These improvements came at the expense of the BYD Destroyer, also known as the Seal 05 in some markets. It did not feature in April’s top 10, falling two positions in the yearly PHEV chart. It ended the period just 272 units behind ninth, with a total of 40,929 deliveries. The model took a 1.9% market share.
