The Model Y was also the top-selling premium SUV in December and for all of 2021 in the sales rankings that include fuel vehicles.

Tesla sold a record 30,102 Model 3s and 40,500 Model Ys in China in December, with the Model Y being the best-selling new energy SUV in December and for the year, according to data released today by China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

The CPCA said yesterday that Tesla's China sales reached a record 70,847 units in December, including 245 units exported.

Tesla sold 40,500 Model Ys in China in December, making it the best-selling new energy SUV for the month, according to breakdowns released today by the CPCA.

(Graphic by CnEVPost)

BYD Song was second on that list with 19,142 units, and Li Auto's Li ONE was third with 14,087. The Nio ES6 was ninth with 4,939 units, the Zeekr 001 was 12th with 3,796 and the Nio ES8 was 15th with 2,782.

For the full year 2021, the Tesla Model Y sold 169,853 units, making it the best-selling new energy SUV of the year. The BYD Song ranked second with 104,244 units and the Li ONE ranked third with 90,491 units. The Nio ES6 ranked sixth with 41,474 units and the Nio ES8 ranked 15th with 20,050 units.

The Model Y was also the highest-selling premium SUV in the sales rankings, including fuel vehicles, for December and for all of 2021.

The Model Y ranked second among all SUVs sold in December, behind the Haval H6 with 41,456 units.

Tesla sold 30,102 Model 3s in China in December, up 26.5 percent from 23,804 units in the same month in 2020.

This makes the Model 3 the fifth best-selling sedan in China in December and the second best-selling new energy sedan, behind SAIC-GM-Wuling's Hongguang Mini EV with 50,561 units.

For the full year 2021, Model 3 sales were 150,890 units, up 9.8 percent from 137,459 units in 2020, the data showed.

The Model 3 is the third best-selling new energy sedan in China for the full year 2021, behind the Hongguang Mini EV at 395,451 units and the BYD Qin at 187,227 units.