Tesla sold more EVs globally than any other OEM in the first half of 2021 and more than doubled its deliveries compared to 2020 during the same time frame, according to data from EV Volumes.
Global EV sales for Tesla stood at 386,000 units during 2021 H1, all sales of which were BEVs.
The main reasons for Tesla’s growth were its high Model 3 sales, the introduction of its Model Y and higher production and sales in China.
However, the Volkswagen Group, which took the second spot for global EV sales rankings by OEM, is beginning to catch up with Tesla. The German automaker delivered 332,000 units, with 172,700 being BEVs and the remaining 159,400 being PHEVs. This represents a growth of +168% compared to 2020 H1, with its growth in PHEVs somewhat higher than in BEVs.
General Motors took the bronze medal in third place with 227,000 units, including more than 180,000 Mini-EVs from its SGMW joint venture in China. Overall, GM posted huge gains growing by +571% over 2020 H1.
The Tesla Model 3 maintained the top spot as the bestselling EV globally in the first half of 2021, with 244,000 units sold in total. Compared to 2020 H1, Tesla increased its Model 3 deliveries by 102,000. The Wuling HongGuang Mini BEV and Tesla Model Y came in second and third place respectively.
EV Volume points out that for the first time ever, the top 10 best selling EVs are all BEVs. The first PHEV now ranks down in 16th place, which is the Volvo XC40. The Renault Zoe, which came in 6th place “had to give way to the onslaught of six new B-Segment entries from three Stellantis brands, which were all in ramp-up during 2020 H1 and have full sales now,” said EV Volumes.
For the global EV market as a whole, a total of 2.65 million new EVs joined the roads during the first half of 2021, an increase of +168% compared to 2020. Growth was strong in all product segments except for sportscars. EV Volumes said the trend is now from sedans and compacts into SUVs. Perhaps most striking of all, though, is the re-bound of mini-EVs in China, which are now being sold at ultra-affordable prices.