BEIJING — Chinese language automaker BYD bought greater than twice as many battery-powered electrical vehicles as start-up Nio delivered in March.

BYD, which is backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, disclosed Tuesday that gross sales of its battery-powered passenger vehicles totaled 16,301 models final month.

That is greater than double Nio’s deliveries in March of seven,257 vehicles. Rival start-up Xpeng delivered even fewer autos, at 5,102 models final month. Both companies still beat analysts’ expectations with these figures.

Within the new power car class, which incorporates hybrid in addition to pure-electric vehicles, BYD bought greater than 23,000 models in March — that brings the entire within the first quarter to 53,380 vehicles.

BYD additionally bought almost as many oil-fueled autos within the first quarter, at 49,394 models.

The gross sales of electrical vehicles come as China’s auto market recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, which hit the nation the toughest within the first quarter of 2020.

New motorcar registrations within the first quarter of this yr climbed to a report excessive of 9.66 million, China’s Ministry of Public Security stated Tuesday. New power autos accounted for 466,000, or simply over 6% of newly registered vehicles, the information confirmed.

The share of recent power vehicles nationwide which can be pure electrical was 81.5% within the first quarter, about the identical because the ratio in 2020, based on public safety knowledge.

In relation to the worldwide market, China’s electric automakers still have a large gap to close.

Electrical automotive market chief Tesla stated final week it delivered 184,800 vehicles worldwide within the first quarter. Whereas the U.S. electrical automotive maker didn’t escape figures for China, the corporate famous in a launch: “We’re inspired by the sturdy reception of the Mannequin Y in China and are shortly progressing to full manufacturing capability.”

Elon Musk‘s automotive firm started deliveries of a China-made Mannequin Y in January. The car was the third best-selling new energy vehicle in China in February, according to the China Passenger Automotive Affiliation.

Tesla has put in annual manufacturing capability for 200,000 Mannequin Y models at its manufacturing unit in Shanghai, according to an investor presentation in late January.