The electric vehicle industry is growing at a rapid pace across the world and it is said that this is only the beginning. The governments of several countries across the world have predicted that EVs would completely replace petrol and diesel-powered cars over the next couple of decades. Going by how quickly EV sales numbers are growing, this is not far-fetched at all.
A recent report by Motor1 revealed EV sales figures for 2022. The report breaks the numbers down into model-wise graphs for worldwide sales and the results are pretty interesting. The predictions of Chinese EVs dominating the world seem to be coming true while European EVs are not too far behind. Here’s all you need to know about electric car sales figures for 2022.
Top 10 Electric Cars Sold In 2022
American EV manufacturer Tesla is unsurprisingly at the top of the worldwide sales chart. There are several reports that claim Tesla’s sales figures are dropping in 2023. It remains to be seen how that pans out for the brand at the end of the year. However, when it comes to 2022, Tesla is at the top of the list by a significant margin.
The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling EV in the world with a total of 747,500 units sold and the Tesla Model 3 comes in second, with 482,200 units sold. Both the Model Y and Model 3 also feature on the list of the ‘Top 10 Most Sold Passenger Cars In 2022’ at the 3rd and 10th positions respectively. Surprisingly though, the Tesla Model X and Model S aren’t even in the Top 10 EVs list.
The EV in third place is most likely to surprise most readers. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is the smallest EV on the Top 10 list and it comes in a close third with 443,400 units sold. This is just 38,800 units short of the Tesla Model 3 in second place. The Hongguang Mini EV is the best-selling EV in China by a large margin. In fact, Chinese EVs are dominating global sales charts.
Seven out of the Top 10 best-selling EVs in the world are Chinese. In addition to the Hongguang Mini EV, the list includes the likes of the BYD Dolphin, BYD Atto 3, BYD Qin, BYD Han, GAC Aion Y, and GAC AION S.
The only European EV on the Top 10 list is the Volkswagen ID.4 with 175,600 units sold. The German electric vehicle seems to be generating quite a lot of demand across several global markets.
When the 2022 sales numbers are compared to the figures from 2021, only the Tesla Model 3 sees a sales decline of 3 percent. All the other EVs on the list have reported massive growth numbers. Sales of the BYD Dolphin grew 916% in 2022! The list becomes more interesting as it is broken down into the country/region of origin.
Top Five Best-Selling European EVs In 2022
Among the European EVs, Volkswagen is unsurprisingly at the top. In recent years, Volkswagen has made great progress in the development of EVs and a range of VW EVs have made their way into several Global markets. With cars like the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 & ID.6, VW is trying to assert dominance in the EV space. The brand also recently revealed the ID.7 with a claimed range of 700 kilometres.
The VW ID.4 was the best-selling European EV in 2022 with 175,600 units sold across the globe. The ID.3 comes in second place with 77,900 units sold. The Fiat 500 Electric takes third place while the BMW IX3 takes fourth and the Polestar 2 completes the Top 5.
| Make & Model | Units Sold In 2022 | Growth Over 2021 Sales |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 175,600 | 53% |
| Volkswagen ID.3 | 77,900 | 4% |
| Fiat 500 Electric | 67,400 | 51% |
| BMW IX3 | 55,300 | 38% |
| Polestar 2 | 51,600 | 105% |
However, these numbers just prove that European car manufacturers have a long way to go in becoming dominant forces in the Global electric vehicle industry. A few American, South Korean, and several Chinese manufacturers are actually pretty competitive in this fast-paced industry.
Top Five Best-Selling American EVs In 2022
If you assumed Tesla would take up most spots on this list, your assumption is absolutely right. Tesla has proven itself as the authoritative force in the Global EV industry and the numbers prove just how superior it is. With the aforementioned global sales numbers, the Tesla Model Y & Model 3 take up the first two spots on this list.
Surprisingly for hardcore petrolheads and unsurprisingly for crusaders of the EV industry, the Ford Mustang Mach-E takes the third spot on the list with 77,500 units sold in 2022. In fourth place is the Tesla Model X and the Chevrolet Bolt completes the list of Top Five Best-Selling American EVs.
| Make & Model | Units Sold In 2022 | Growth Over 2021 Sales |
| Tesla Model Y | 747,500 | 91% |
| Tesla Model 3 | 482,200 | -3% |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 77,500 | 41% |
| Tesla Model X | 37,600 | 951% |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 32,800 | 339% |
Top Five Best-Selling Korean EVs In 2022
The South Korean car industry is dominated by the Hyundai Group and hence it is no surprise that the Top Five best-selling Korean cars are all made by Hyundai and Kia. Taking the top spot is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with a Global sales figure of 100,000 units. In second place is the Kia EV6 which in itself is based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro, and Hyundai Ioniq take the remaining three places respectively.
The Global Automotive Industry is currently in a transitional phase and EVs have already taken up two spots in the Top 10 best-selling cars. In the coming years, we’re bound to see EVs take up more spots on the list.
| Make & Model | Units Sold In 2022 | Growth Over 2021 Sales |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 100,000 | 121% |
| Kia EV6 | 78,800 | 314% |
| Hyundai Kona | 56,700 | -10% |
| Kia Niro | 56,200 | -14% |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 11,400 | NA (Launched In 2022) |
The UAE car market too is all set to embrace the electric vehicle revolution. Tesla’s cars are extremely popular in the UAE and EVs from a few other manufacturers are also in-demand. There are over 800 new electric cars for sale in the UAE and over 120 used electric cars for sale in the UAE.
Source: Motor1
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– Ford Mustang: All You Need To Know About The Generations & Models Of The Ford Mustang
