BEIJING — TeslaAnd BYDChina’s market leader in electric cars in China, in 2021, was OPEC. But new rivals emerged in the face of smaller competition like NioAccording to China Passenger Car Association

Budget electric car Hongguang Mini retained the best-selling spot — more than tripling sales last year to 395,451 units, the association data showed Thursday.

The top-selling vehicles in the category of new energy vehicles, which also includes hybrid and battery-powered cars, were the more costly Teslas and BYD.

Below is the top 15 new-energy passenger cars in China, with SUVs included, for 2021.

1. Hongguan Mini (SAIC-GM-Wuling)
2. Qin (BYD).
3. Model Y (Tesla)
4. Model 3 (Tesla)
5. Han (BYD).
6. Song (BYD).
7. Li OneLi Auto)
8. eQ
9. Benben EV (Changan)
10. Aion S (GAC Motor spinoff)
11. Ora Black Cat, Great Wall Motor
12. P7 (Xpeng)
13. Tang (BYD)
14. Ora Good Cat, Great Wall Motor
15. Nezha V (Hozon Auto)

Three BYD models ranked among the top 10, with the BYD Qin sedan reaching sales of 187,227 units — and outselling all Tesla models.

The BYD Qin came in close behind Tesla’s Model Y. It launched last year in China and jumped to the top in the new-energy SUV market with 169.853 units sold by 2021. According to the association,

The Model 3 was next with 150,890 units being sold in 2017, an increase of nearly 10% over 2020.

Some of the automakers in China have cast doubt on the accuracy of the association’s figures. The numbers could also reflect larger trends.

Li AutoThe top 10 new energy passenger cars were named after the hybrid Li One. XpengThe top 15 were won by the P7 sedan.

This SUV is a relative newcomer on the market. The Nezha V fully electric SUV placed 15th. Three more Nio models were even further down in the sales ranking.

Nezha, a brand of start-up Hozon Auto has closed a $4 billion ($625m) financing round during the fourth quarter. Nezha V prices start at 62,900yuan ($9.722) with subsidies. Nio’s ES6 SUV is comparable at 346.660 yuan, after subsidisations.