Singapore-based research firm Canalsys has put global sales of electric vehicles in the first six months of 2022 at 4.2 million, an increase of 63% compared to the same period in 2021, writes Leatherbiz.

The image shows the BYD Tang

China is the fastest-growing EV market and in the first half of 2022, 2.4 million EVs were delivered to customers there. This equated to 26% of all passenger car sales in China in this period, against just 10% in the first half of 2021.

EV sales in China represented 57% of global sales in the first six months of 2022, and during this period sales soared by 118% in that country compared to 2021.

In Europe, 1.1 million EVs were sold from January to June this year, accounting for 20% of all passenger cars. EVs represented 16% in the same period of 2021.

In comparison, EV sales in the US lagged. Only 414,000 units were delivered to buyers in the first six months of 2022. Nevertheless, EVs still grew from 3% of new cars in the same period of 2021 to 6% in 2022.

Chinese group BYD, which started as a manufacturer of batteries, was the leading seller of EVs in the first half of this year, with Canalsys putting the company’s total sales at 640,000 vehicles, representing a 15% market share.

Tesla, SAIC Motor, Volkswagen Group and Geely Group were other prominent sellers.