BYD sets monthly electric vehicle sales record

BYD, a Chinese automaker, sold over 300,000 fully electric vehicles in October 2026, the first time it has achieved this milestone in a single month. The company's total sales for the month reached 490,168 vehicles, an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Fully electric vehicles drive growth

Of the total sales, 305,743 were fully electric vehicles, marking a 37.4% increase year-on-year. This is the third consecutive monthly record for BYD in the fully electric segment, highlighting the growing demand for zero-emission vehicles.

BYD outpaces European competitors

BYD’s October sales of fully electric vehicles nearly doubled the combined annual totals of Mercedes (168,800 in 2025) and Volvo (151,830 in 2025). Mercedes saw strong growth in 2026, selling 165,500 electric vehicles in the first nine months of the year, a 40% increase from the previous year.

International expansion boosts sales

BYD’s October sales included 170,194 units exported, a 102.8% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This growth in exports contrasts with a 10.6% decline in domestic sales, attributed to increased competition from other local brands in China.

Plug-in hybrids see decline

Plug-in hybrid sales fell by 17.2% year-on-year in October 2026, with 177,382 units sold. Fully electric models now represent over 63% of BYD’s passenger car sales, compared to about 51% a year ago, showing a significant shift in the company’s product mix.

Full year sales show slight decline

For the full year 2026, BYD sold 3.62 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, a 2.2% decrease compared to 2025. Despite this, the company continues to expand its presence in foreign markets, which now account for nearly 35% of its monthly sales activity.