Six Chinese automakers accounted for more than 60% of global sales of electrified vehicles in the first half of this year.
Global sales of electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, reached 8.847 million units from January through June, up 2.6% from a year earlier, according to a report on first-half 2026 global electrified vehicle sales released on the 14th by the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA).
BYD held the top spot with 2.29 million units. Also among the top 10 were Geely Group in second place with 1.127 million units, SAIC Motor Group in fourth with 752,000 units, Chery Automobile in sixth with 579,000 units, Leapmotor in seventh with 417,000 units, and Changan Group in ninth with 339,000 units.
Combined sales at the six companies totaled 5.504 million units, an 11.6% increase from the same period last year, lifting their share of global sales to 62.3% from 57.2%.
"Chinese automakers are rapidly expanding their global market share by simultaneously accelerating price competitiveness and multi-brand strategies, despite a slowdown in China's domestic economy," KAMA said.
Tesla ranked third with 1.02 million units, up 24.2% from a year earlier, while Volkswagen Group placed fifth with 650,000 units, a 4.5% gain. Hyundai Motor Group (005380.KS) came in eighth with 358,000 units, up 27.4%.
By region, electrified vehicle sales were led by China with 4.58 million units, followed by Europe with 2.35 million, the U.S. with 550,000, South Korea with 204,000 and Japan with 83,000.
Sales fell 14.1% in China on weaker consumer sentiment and 28.8% in the U.S. after purchase incentives expired. Europe, by contrast, saw a 31.7% increase as affordable models launched and incentives took effect.
South Korean sales jumped 103.9%, driven by high oil prices stemming from conflict in the Middle East, wider sales of imported electric vehicles and an expanded lineup of domestic models.
"Chinese companies are accelerating exports and local operations in Europe and emerging markets," KAMA Chairman Chung Dae-jin said. "Policy support that can respond to the Chinese offensive and shifts in the global trade environment, along with expanded incentives to attract domestic production capacity, is urgently needed."
