Chinese automaker BYD has entered the ranks of the world’s five largest car manufacturers by sales, driven by a sharp rise in overseas shipments and continued dominance in its home market.
The Shenzhen-based company exported 1.049 million passenger vehicles and pickup trucks in 2025, marking a 145% increase from the previous year and the first time its annual exports exceeded the one-million mark. The surge lifted BYD’s total global sales to 4.6 million vehicles for the year.
The milestone positions BYD as the first Chinese automotive group to break into the global top five by volume, overtaking established players including General Motors, Ford, Honda and Nissan. Ford’s global wholesale volume fell to just under 4.4 million units in 2025, down nearly 2% year-on-year.
Global Expansion Accelerates
BYD’s new energy vehicles are now sold across 119 countries and regions. The company secured the overall brand sales title in Hong Kong and ranked first in new energy vehicle sales in Italy, Spain and Hungary. It also strengthened its footprint in emerging markets such as Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil, while reporting record sales in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Industry analysts say the rapid expansion reflects both competitive pricing and vertical integration in battery technology, giving BYD greater cost control compared with many global rivals.
The company has maintained its position as the world’s top-selling new energy vehicle manufacturer for four consecutive years. In 2025, BYD’s battery electric vehicle sales surpassed Tesla for the first time, making it the global leader in pure electric vehicle sales.
Domestic Strength Anchors Growth
At home, BYD sold more than 4.6 million vehicles in China in 2025, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association, retaining leading positions in both automaker and brand rankings.
In December, BYD produced its 15 millionth new energy vehicle, becoming the first Chinese automaker to reach the milestone — a symbolic marker of the country’s growing influence in the global electric vehicle race.
Its product lineup spans the Dynasty and Ocean series, with models such as Qin, Yuan and Seal among leaders in their segments. Premium sub-brands Formula Leopard, Denza and Yangwang also reported strong year-on-year sales growth.
Technology and Logistics Drive Strategy
BYD continues to invest heavily in proprietary technologies, including its Eye of God driver assistance system, Super e-Platform, fifth-generation DM hybrid system and Blade Battery. As of December 2025, more than 2.56 million vehicles equipped with its driver assistance systems had been delivered.
Looking ahead, analysts expect overseas momentum to continue into 2026 as BYD expands global production bases and strengthens its dedicated roll-on/roll-off shipping fleet. The company’s climb from ninth place globally in 2023 to fifth in 2025 underscores a broader shift in the automotive industry’s balance of power.
With exports rising and domestic demand remaining strong, BYD’s ascent signals a new phase in China’s push to lead the global transition to electric mobility.
