Automakers sold 5,655 BEVs and 2,713 hybrids in 2011, according to CAAM statistics. Last year was the first year CAAM broke out statistics for advanced-powertrain vehicle sales and production.
China is expected to overtake the U.S. and other parts of the world in these sorts of vehicle sales as government plans that encourage zero-emissions vehicles go into effect during the next few years and companies like BYD expand BEV production. Overall, Asia-Pacific will account for about 617,000 electric-drive vehicles sold in 2017, almost double North America’s total, green-technology research firm Pike Research estimated last year. China passenger vehicle sales totaled 14.5 million units last year, up 5.2 percent from a year earlier, according to CAAM.
