The biggest change: China-made brands now lead in key segments and their rise has been powered by new electric-drive models that are gaining share at home and overseas.
The biggest winner has been BYD, which will use the Shanghai show to unveil a new hatchback electric vehicle (EV) for value-seeking buyers and a pricier EV styled as an SUV.
BYD’s sales in China are up almost 69% this year, giving it an 11% share of the overall car market, more than the Volkswagen brand or the Toyota brand, according to an analysis of sales data.
“The stratification of this market into clear winners and losers is becoming clear,” Bill Russo, founder of consultancy Automobility said in a note issued on Tuesday. “And there are very few winners and a whole lot of losers.”
China’s passenger car sales were down 13% in the first quarter, data from the China Passenger Car Association show.
But sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids – an area where Chinese automakers…
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