What is the most popular electric car brand in the world

The top 9 electric vehicle manufacturers

Dire distress about climate change and CO2 emissions seems to have been in the air for decades, yet the idea of banning the sale of fossil fuel-consuming still sounds radical to the point of being unimaginable.

And yet, today, no fewer than 51 countries around the world have announced plans to implement a ban on the sale of new gas guzzlers, with various dates for those rules kicking in (the earliest, just a few years away now, is 2025, which is when Norway will bid farewell to internal combustion, at least in new-car sales).

Taking the very strong hint that the future is electric, car manufacturers have also made some bold proclamations, with a swathe of them pledging to either go fully electric or predominantly electric in the near future.

Read more about electric cars

Some forecasts predict annual global EV sales could reach 40 million by 2030 - a significant jump from the 4.2 million global EV passenger car sales in 2021.

As of 2022, there are 14 brands of electric cars in Australia and 30 models on offer including 65 variants (28 plug-in hybrid electric variants and 37 battery electric vehicle variants); in the near future well see an additional 31 battery electric vehicle variants, and six PHEVs from a range of 28 models.

Whichever way you slice it with an electric knife, its clear that electric car companies are only going to go from strength to strength, while ICE vehicles go the way of the dinosaurs. Or the horse and cart (and, just as rich people still ride horses, you can bet old cars will hang around, too).

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Starting with perhaps the most influential electric car maker on the planet - no prizes for guessing - heres a list of car companies with big plans for EVs (note: most car companies will have plug-in hybrid electric vehicles too, but well be focusing on the companies that already have a range of all-electric vehicles on offer).

Companies are ranked in terms of market cap, net worth, stock value, and units sold by the end of 2021.

1. Tesla

Although the word cool isnt the first thing you think of when clapping eyes upon Elon Musk, the fact remains that the Tesla CEO is pretty much singlehandedly responsible for making EVs trendy and popular - a feat that has taken his personal worth beyond $US200 billion, while Tesla itself is worth a mind-boggling $US725 billion.

Teslas current stable includes the worlds highest-selling EV, the Model 3, along with the Model S, X and Y (yes, Musk has actually made it so the line-up spells out S3XY).

In the works are a second-generation Tesla Roadster sports car, as well as the Tesla Semi, Tesla Cybertruck and Tesla Cyberquad, all reportedly due in 2023 (its worth noting that not all Teslas actually arrive to market as predicted).

Tesla sold 936,172 global units in 2021 and 310,411 units in the first quarter of 2022.

2. BYD

Chinese car manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams, acronym fans) has snuck up behind Tesla to become the second-biggest EV manufacturer in the world, having sold a huge 593,743 units in 2021 (2022 Q1 is off to a reasonably good start with 144,203 units sold).

Its making in-roads into the Australian marketplace too, claiming that its already taken more than 3000 orders for the Atto 3 electric SUV, which is priced at $44,990, making it the equal cheapest EV in Australia, matching the MG ZS EV.

A small EV hatch and mid-sized EV sedan are also due to arrive in Australia by the end of 2022, so expect BYD to become more of a household name before too long.

3. Volkswagen Group

The automotive conglomerate responsible for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, koda and, of course, Volkswagen sold 452,900 units globally in 2021 and has revealed big EV plans for the future: it aims to have 50 per cent of the cars it produces be EVs by 2030, with that number closer to 100 per cent by 2040 as it moves towards an ultimate goal of being completely carbon neutral by 2050.

The Volkswagen range of EVs is on track to overtake Tesla in terms of sales by 2024, with the ID range beginning to arrive in Australia in 2023, when the ID.4 and ID.5 mid-size electric SUVs finally go on sale.

Other EV models from the VW Group available in Australia include the Audi e-tron and Porsche Taycan.

4. SAIC-GM-Wuling Motors

This joint venture between Chinas SAIC Motor and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co and American automotive giants General Motors sold 400,000 units in 2021, a large portion of that number being Chinas most popular electric vehicle, the Hong Guang MINI EV.

The reason for its popularity? A bargain-basement $A7200, which buys you a 9.2kWh battery that supplies 120km of driving range, although a 26.5 kWh model with 280km of estimated range is due by the end of 2022.

5. BMW

BMW - which also has the Rolls-Royce and Mini brands on its roster - has said that half of its sedans, SUVs and Minis will be electric by 2030, with the aim to cut its emission footprint by a third at that point as well.

The company shifted 328,316 EVs globally in 2021 and already has a number of all-electric cars on the Australian market, including the BMW iX3 subcompact car, the iX series of electric luxury SUVs, the i4 Gran Coupe and Mini Electric hatch. The all-electric i7 will be joining them in the fourth quarter of 2022.

6. Nissan

Selling 184,033 EVs globally in 2021, the makers of the popular Leaf EV - (at one time, pre Teslas dominance, it was the biggest selling EV in the world) has pledged to have 50 per cent of the cars it produces electrified by 2030, with plans to have another 15 all-electric models available by then.

Its newest EV, the Ariya SUV, is likely to arrive Down Under in 2023.

7. Hyundai Motor Group

The South Korean motoring juggernaut consisting of the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands sold 160,000 EVs around the world by the end of 2021.

Hyundai already has its own EV sub-brand, Ioniq, with hopes to have 23 EV models across all brands by 2025.

In Australia, Hyundai currently has the Kona Electric, Ioniq Electric (although it has been discontinued as of 2022), Ioniq 5, while its sister company has the Kia Niro EV and EV6. By the end of 2022 the Genesis G80, GV70 and GV60 will also be available, while 2023 sees the arrival of the Ioniq 6 electrified streamliner (a fancy way of saying electric sedan).

Dont expect things to stop there: Hyundai Motor Group has pledged a $US16.2 billion investment in electrification between now and 2030, when the company hopes for global EV sales of 1.87 million units.

8. Nio

Considered the Chinese version of Tesla, Nio sold 25,000 EVs globally in 2021.

Nio pumps out a wide range of EVs, including the ES7 SUV, a direct competitor of the Tesla Model Y, as well as developing autonomous-driving and battery-swapping technologies.

Although Nio has no models available in Australia yet, the company has dropped hints it will enter the marketplace here by 2025.

9. Xpeng

With a net worth of $US16.28 billion as of May 2022, the Chinese start-up is battling it out with BYD and Nio for EV supremacy in China after shifting 16,000 EVs in 2021.

Xpengs range of EVs include the P7, P5, G3i, and G9, with the company yet to announce any plans to bring its models to Australia.

Electric vehicle sales globally by model 2023

The Tesla Model Y was the worlds most popular plug-in electric vehicle with worldwide unit sales of roughly 771,300 in 2022. That year,

deliveries of Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y

have surpassed 1.7 million.

Competition increases in electric vehicle manufacturing

While two out of the five best-selling plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) models were Tesla-branded, the battery electric vehicle manufacturer faced competition from Asian brands in 2022. China-based BYD overtook Tesla as the

best-selling PEV brand that year

, relying on a large offering of plug-in hybrid electric models. No European models made it to the top ten that year.

Technology drives automotive electrification

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity. Consumers have become more interested in plug-in electric vehicles following important technological developments. Technology has significantly increased the

range of electric vehicles

and public charging infrastructure, meaning that plug-in vehicles are becoming more accessible and practical. However, while technological advances have contributed to the success of the market, the lack of public awareness surrounding electric vehicles,

range anxiety and the geographical distribution of charging infrastructure

could lower demand.

2022s top 10 best-selling electric vehicles in the US: Find out why they made the cut

Electric vehicles took the US auto market by storm in 2022, and for good reason. Demand for zero-emission EVs has never been higher. Check out the top 10 best-selling electric vehicles of 2022, and learn why they earned a spot on the list.

What are the best-selling electric vehicles of 2022?

While the broader US auto market slumped this past year, electric vehicles were a bright spot. Automakers more than doubled their investments to catch EV pioneer Tesla and solidify their futures.

Fully electric vehicle sales reached over 800,000 in the United States, nearly doubling from 2021 to reach almost 6% overall market share, according to the latest figures from Motor Intelligence.

A significant reason for the uptick in demand is due to additional EV models available on the market. On top of this, new government incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August, provide buyers with up to $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 for used ones.

Tesla remains on top by a far margin, accounting for 65% of total EV sales in the United States in 2022. However, other automakers that were fast to react to the rapidly evolving market, like Ford, Hyundai, and GM, are beginning to claim their shares.

Ford sold 61,575 electric vehicles in 2022, claiming the second-largest US EV marker. Hyundai and Kia both set sales records last year due to strong demand for their electric models as the brands gear up for an even bigger 2023.

Meanwhile, GM says it had the #1 mainstream EV in Q3 and Q4 (we assume not counting Tesla) in their most recent sales update. So, what are the best-selling electric vehicles driving the success? Heres a list of the top 10 EVs sold in the United States and why they earned a spot on the list.

No. 10: Ford F-150 Lightning/Rivian R1T

Ford raced its way to becoming the USs second best-selling EV maker last year by converting its legendary brands into fully electric powerhouses.

It started with the Mustang Mach-E (which also made the list) as Ford later converted its best-selling F-series to meet the demands of the new EV era.

The F-150 Lightning was revealed to the world in May 2021 and, by the end of the year, already had over 200,000 reservations or three years of backlog. After ramping up production, the Ford F-150 Lightning became the number-one electric truck in the United States in December and best-selling since its release in May. Ford sold 15,617 Lightning electric trucks in 2022.

The electric pickup offers ample storage with a 14.1 cubic-foot Mega-Power Frunk and advanced capabilities like onboard power that can be used to power home essentials, a campsite, or workstation, etc.

Fords electric truck is capable enough for those looking to switch from its gas-powered peers while gaining a massive tech upgrade.

Note: Rivian does not provide a breakdown for its vehicle sales. According to the companys full-year 2022 update, Rivian produced 24,337 EVs and delivered 20,332 throughout the year.

Nonetheless, the Rivian R1T offers the perfect blend of off- and on-road capabilities with next-level performance and versatility.

The Rivian R1T won Electreks vehicle of the year in 2021 because it literally has everything tons of storage, a roomy interior, and its faster than most sports cars.

No. 9: Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen sold 20,511 ID.4s in the United States last year as demand for VWs first all-electric SUV continued building.

The VW ID.4, based on the MEB platform, began production in 2020 and has since risen to become one of the top-selling EVs as a practical everyday SUV with plenty of range (up to 275-miles EPA estimated range) for your daily travels. With a starting price of less than $40,000, the ID.4 gives you that luxury feel without paying the premium.

On top of this, the EV includes VWs advanced driver assistance tech called IQ.DRIVE, featuring travel assist, adaptive cruise control, active blind spot monitor, front assist, and more.

Volkswagens ID.4 makes a great first EV for those looking for a roomy, safe vehicle for a decent starting price.

No. 8: Kia EV6

Kia hit the ground running in one of the most impressive brand transformations the auto industry has seen for some time. The automakers first dedicated electric vehicle, the Kia EV6, has a sharp style and is fun to drive with surprising performance.

Sitting on the Hyundai Motor Companys E-GMP platform, the EV6 was revealed by Kia in May 2021. Its an all-electric sport crossover fit for the modern era. Kia sold 20,498 EV6 models in 2022.

The Kia EV6 comes with up to 310 miles of range, 18 minutes of fast charging (10% to 80%), vehicle-to-load capabilities, and much more. For those who like a little more thrill out of their ride, the Kia EV6 GT comes loaded with 576 hp, enough to beat a Ferrari and Lamborghini in a race.

No. 7: Hyundai IONIQ 5

Hyundai, which owns a controlling interest in Kia, has also successfully broken into the EV market, introducing its game-changing IONIQ 5 SUV.

Introduced in February 2021, the bold, futuristic-looking IONIQ 5 has already won several awards, capturing the hearts of many drivers making the switch to fully electric. The IONIQ 5 also sits on the E-GMP platform as Hyundai reimagined every detail for its first dedicated EV.

Hyundais IONIQ 5 is another practical SUV, like the ID.4 and EV6, with up to 303 miles EPA range for a decent starting price, which is why the company sold 22,982 of them this past year.

No. 6: Tesla Model X

Tesla still has a massive lead in terms of production capabilities, and its first SUV, the Model X, continues seeing strong demand despite smaller, more affordable Tesla models being launched.

The Model X is the largest EV in Teslas lineup (excluding Cybertruck and Semi) and sports long-range capabilities (348 mile EPA range), AWD dual motor, a sizable seven-seat interior, 88-cubic-foot cargo space, and 5,000 lb. of towing capacity.

With over 1,020 hp peak power, the Model X Plaid is the quickest accelerating of any SUV (0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds) and still offers 333 miles EPA estimated range.

For a while, the Model X was the go-to electric family car, but with more cost-effective options hitting the market, many wondered if sales would slow. For now, the Model X continues its reign.

No. 5: Chevy Bolt EV/EUV

The Chevy Bolt EV and EUV models had a massive year in 2022 despite resuming production in April due to a recall in 2021.

GM said the Chevy Bolt was the number 1 mainstream EV in the Q3 and Q4, ending the year on a high note. With a starting price of just over $25,000, the Bolt EV is the cheapest electric vehicle in the US, but that doesnt mean its any less functional.

The Chevy Bolt EV is quick, fun to drive, and still offers a decent range (259-mile EPA range) which is why it won Electreks vehicle of the year in 2022. GM says Chevy Bolt EV and EUV sales reached 38,120 in 2022.

No. 4: Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S speaks for itself. Its super sleek, offers ultra-long-range capabilities (405 miles EPA estimated range), and features unparalleled performance.

The all-electric luxury Model S sedan was a primary driver behind the mainstream EV movement with quick acceleration (0 to 60 in 3.1 seconds), extended range, and confident handling.

It also features ample storage and a modern interior, making it a practical drive and still one of the best luxury EVs on the market, with a starting price of $104,990.

No. 3: Ford Mustang Mach-E

Ford is another legacy automaker that embraced the electric vehicle movement, carrying its iconic Mustang brand into the new EV era.

The Mustang Mach-E was introduced in 2019 and has steadily gained momentum since. The five-seat SUV starts at $46,895, offering a smooth, quiet ride with ample range. Fords year-end numbers indicate 39,458 Mach-Es were sold in 2022.

Fords Mach-E features a spacious interior, over-the-air software updates, and advanced safety features. Furthermore, with several different trims offering a mix of range and performance capabilities, you are sure to find the right model for you.

No. 2: Tesla Model 3

Tesla introduced the Model 3 to reduce the entry price to own an electric vehicle without sacrificing range or performance.

Customers began receiving their Model 3s in 2018, and the model quickly became the best-selling electric vehicle at the time. The Tesla Model 3 offers the same Tesla spirit, with plenty of power and superior handling.

The four-door EV is built for safety, achieving a five-star NHTSA rating in every category, quick acceleration (0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds), long-range capabilities (358-mile EPA range), and a starting price of $46,990.

No. 1: Tesla Model Y

The Model 3 was the best-selling electric vehicle, of course, until the Model Y hit the market.

The Tesla Model Y began rolling out in 2020 and has exploded in popularity ever since. After edging out gas-powered vehicles in Europe for the best-selling car title, the Model Y looks to do the same in the United States, already placing among the top 10 overall vehicle sales. In fact, the Tesla Model Y is on its way to becoming the top-selling car globally, and for good reason.

Teslas Model Y comes with an AWD dual motor, 76-cubic-foot storage, and a 330-mile range, all for a starting price of $65,990.

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