Korean Media: Geely Edges Out BYD to Claim China's Domestic Car Sales Crown in Q1!
On May 9, South Korea's daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo published an article stating that the competition between BYD and Geely for the title of China's top domestic automaker has begun.
Since claiming the top spot in the Chinese market in 2022, BYD has consistently held the position of China's largest automaker. However, starting this year, BYD's dominance in sales has faced increasing challenges.
According to industry sources, Geely Auto sold 709,358 units in the first quarter of this year, surpassing BYD (700,500 units).
In March alone, BYD sold 300,222 vehicles, while Geely sold 233,031—placing BYD first in monthly sales.
Yet Geely managed to rise to the top overall because its sales exceeded those of BYD in January and February.
In fact, Geely sold 476,000 units in January and February—far exceeding BYD’s 400,200 units during the same period.
Geely was once China’s largest automaker until BYD emerged as a major force. In 2017, Geely surpassed Changan Automobile to claim the top position.
But with the surge in popularity of electric vehicles and new energy vehicles across China starting in 2022, BYD quickly became a symbol of Chinese automotive excellence.
Last year, the annual sales gap between BYD and Geely reached 1.58 million units, with a monthly average difference of 130,000 units.
Chinese auto industry analysts predict that leadership in the Chinese market this year may hinge on exports. It is expected that export performance by Chinese enterprises will significantly influence this year’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Beijing Hyundai recorded sales of 50,378 units in the first quarter—a year-on-year increase of 85%—achieving 14 consecutive months of year-over-year growth.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864713418787840/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.