What were the most popular electric vehicles in 2024?
13 February 2025
Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) enjoyed a mostly positive 2024, but which models proved the most popular globally? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the year’s best-selling electric vehicles (EVs).
BEVs and PHEVs both recorded double-digit registration growth around the world last year. In particular, PHEVs had a successful 2024, with deliveries increasing by 54.4% year on year to 6.5 million units. Meanwhile, BEV registrations increased by 13.6% to 10.8 million units.
Both powertrains enjoyed a strong start to the year, with high growth in January. A major contributing factor was the Chinese market, which saw increased demand for EVs. This was followed by a less successful global market in February, with BEV deliveries falling.
Once again, China was a primary driver of this change. The country’s high demand dropped as Chinese New Year celebrations began on 10 February and lasted for 15 days. In 2023, the celebration began at the end of January and ended in early February, accounting for the comparative difference.
As the year rolled on, both powertrains recovered from this early drop. While BEVs experienced lower single-digit inclines between June and July, PHEV deliveries never dropped below a growth rate of 25.9%.
In December, BEV registrations were up by 15.3% to 1.2 million units. PHEVs once again saw lower volume, but greater growth. In the last month of the year, plug-in hybrid deliveries increased by 48.9% to 743,689 units. But which models were the most popular across 2024?
Model Y claims 2024 victory
The best-selling BEV in 2024 was the Tesla Model Y. This was the all-electric model’s third consecutive win. It was the only BEV to cross the one-million-unit mark last year, recording more than 1.1 million deliveries. The Model Y made up 10.9% of all BEV sales in 2024.
The US carmaker will be looking to keep this momentum in 2025 with a facelifted edition of the Model Y. A launch version of this car is currently available in the US. However, Lars Moravy, vice president of vehicle engineering at Tesla, told Jay Leno more variants will arrive later this year.
The next best-selling BEV, the Telsa Model 3 represented 4.9% of the market, with 529,170 registrations. This meant it took second place in the rankings for the third year in a row. Maintaining such a high position was no doubt thanks to its refresh in 2023.
The BYD Seagull, also known as the Dolphin Mini in some markets, was the third best-selling BEV in 2024. The model launched in 2023 and reached fifth place that year. Recording 472,798 sales in 2024, the Seagull held a 4.4% market share.
BYD recently confirmed it will install a new autonomous driving system across its entire range. Dubbed ‘God’s Eye’, it looks to be capable of autonomous overtaking on roads and parking via smartphone, as outlined by the Financial Times.
Making systems previously featured in premium models more widely available should make affordable BEVs like the Seagull even more appealing.
BYD claims three spots
The BYD Yuan Plus, also known as the Atto 3, finished 2024 in fourth. It reached a volume of 339,656 units, accounting for 3.1% of all BEV sales. The Wuling Mini finished in fifth place, with a market share of 2.4% after reaching 261,182 registrations.
The third BYD in the BEV top 10 was the Dolphin. It recorded 217,018 deliveries, meaning it made up 2% of the all-electric market last year. The Wuling Bingo was only 1,237 registrations behind, reaching a volume of 215,781 and a share of 2%.
The Aion Y was slightly further back in eighth place, making up 1.5% of the market with 161,686 deliveries. The first BEV from a European manufacturer in the top 10 was the Volkswagen (VW) ID.3 in ninth. The all-electric car represented 1.4% of the BEV market last year, with 149,919 registrations recorded.
Taking tenth place was the Changan Lumin. It reached 145,494 deliveries across the world in 2024, accounting for 1.3% of the global BEV market.
Familiar top three
The order of the year’s leading three BEV models was mirrored in December’s results. The Tesla Model Y finished first with an 11% share of the market. Its 134,408 deliveries were up by 5% on December 2023.
The Tesla Model 3 moved up a place from November to take second, with 4.8% of the market. Its deliveries grew by 1% in the month to 58,407 units. This left the BYD Seagull in third with a 4.2% share of the market after recording 51,566 sales, up by 2.1%.
The Wuling Mini finished December in fourth, as its sales jumped by an impressive 50.9% year on year, to 37,755 units. This gave it a 3.1% share of the market. The Wuling Bingo climbed to fifth place as its sales increased by 8.3% to 31,255 units, and it claimed 2.6% of the market.
Now in its third year on sale, the BYD Yuan Plus slipped to sixth as its deliveries dropped by 26.4%. With 27,761 units, it made up 2.3% of all BEV sales in December. The Xiaomi SU7 came seventh with a volume of 25,815 units and a 2.1% share.
The BYD Yuan Up hit 19,265 sales, claiming 1.6% of the market. The BYD Dolphin saw its sales fall by 38.1% to 18,968 units, with a share of 1.6%. In 10th, the Geely Geome Xingyuan was not far behind with 1.3% and 16,491 registrations.
BYD commands 2024 PHEV table
The BYD Song, also known as the Seal U, commanded the global PHEV market. It recorded 660,214 deliveries, making up 10.2% of all plug-in hybrid sales. In second place, the BYD Qin Plus took a 5.4% market share with 347,757 deliveries.
The BYD Qin L held 3.5% of the market with 229,591 deliveries. Its sibling, the BYD Destroyer 05, followed close behind with a share of 3.4% and a volume of 223,778 units.
The brand claimed its fifth consecutive spot in the table with the BYD Seal 06. It took a share of 3.1% and 200,019 units registered. The Aito M7 finished the year close behind, with 193,342 units and a 3% share. The Li Auto L6 took 3% as well, with 192,257 registrations.
The last model from BYD in the top 10 was the Han, accounting for 2.8% of all PHEV sales with 178,767 deliveries. The Li Auto L7 finished in ninth with 143,698 sales and a 2.2% market share. In 10th, the Aito M9 recorded 139,452 sales and represented 2.1% of PHEV sales.
BYD’s December run
Having dominated the full-year chart, BYD also commanded global PHEV registrations in December. The brand claimed seven of the top 10 positions. The BYD Song took first with a market share of 10.3% as its sales climbed 23.4% year on year to 76,433 units.
Second went to the BYD Qin Plus, recording 31,375 sales, up 6.4% year on year. This allowed it to claim a market share of 4.2%. The BYD Qin L took third, making up 4% of the market with 30,062 global sales. The BYD Seal 06 finished fourth with 27,913 deliveries and a 3.8% share.
The Li Auto L6 finished in fifth with a sales volume of 27,769 units and 3.7% of the market. BYD returned in sixth with the Song L, accounting for 3% of PHEV sales in December with 22,502 deliveries. The BYD Han was close in seventh, with 22,427 registrations and a 3% share of the market.
The eighth-place BYD Destroyer 05 recorded 21,210 deliveries, as it made up 2.9% of PHEV sales in the month. In ninth, the Galaxy Starship 7 held 2.7% of the market with 19,836 sales. The Li Auto L7 finished in tenth with 13,898 deliveries and a 1.9% market share.
