BYD sales in its top twelve European markets surged last month as the Chinese automaker expanded into new countries and introduced new models.
According to data compiled by EV, the carmaker sold approximately 9,381 vehicles across Portugal, Spain, Italy, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
This represents a 344.8% increase compared to the estimated 2,109 vehicles sold in May 2024.
The Chinese giant, which produces both fully electric and hybrid vehicles, led European sales when it comes to new energy vehicle (NEV) brands.
According to its website, the company is currently present in over 20 European markets, which include Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Netherlands, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain, among others.
According to the SMMT, BYD sold 3,025 units in the UK last month, a 407.6% surge year over year and a sequential increase of 20.5% from the 2,511 vehicles sold in April.
The brand’s lineup in the country include battery electric vehicles (BEV) and one plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model (the Seal U DM-i SUV), with entry-level prices going from £26,205 ($35,400) to £47,000 ($63,500).
The Shenzen-based brand outperformed Tesla, the former best-selling NEV brand in UK sales, for the first time in January.
In Ireland, the company sold 114 vehicles, nearly double from the 60 it had recorded a year ago. However, in April it had sold 201 units — which means sales fell 43.3% month over month.
The company listed 177 vehicles in the Danish market, a dip of 4.3% year over year from the 185 units sold in May 2024. Compared to April, registrations fell 22.0% from 227 vehicles.
BYD entered Finland in 2020. According to national registration data, the company sold 11 vehicles in May, down from the 67 it sold a year ago. The brand had sold 28 vehicles in April.
In Norway, the world’s leading country in EV adoption, BYD registered 517 units last month — surging 240.1% from the 152 sold a year ago.
Norway was the country that registered the highest sales rebound for Tesla, with the U.S. company selling 2,600 EVs in May. The figures rose 212.5% year over year and 166.4% sequentially.
According to Mobility Sweden, BYD sales reached 89 vehicles in the country, up 64.8% from the 54 units sold in April. A year ago, the brand had sold 113 vehicles, meaning that sales declined by 21.2%.
Geely-backed Polestar ranked as the tenth best-selling brand in Sweden last month, and led the market regarding NEV brands, with 613 units sold. The company is headquartered in Gothernburg.
BYD entered Sweden and Germany in late 2022, in a partnership with the one of Europe’s largest dealers ‘Hedin Mobility Group’.
The brand’s registrations in Germany soared 824% year over year in May to 1,857 vehicles, data from the KBA showed.
The Chinese giant posted its second-best sales month since mid-2023, with May marking BYD’s strongest performance so far this year in the German market.
BYD’s sales in the Netherlands were up 44.7% in May to 317 vehicles, with May becoming its best sales month in the Dutch market so far this year.
In May, BYD sold 938 vehicles in the French market, less than half of the 2,064 units sold in April. However, registrations soared 627.1% year over year.
The Chinese giant expanded to Switzerland last April, with the battery electric Seal sedan, the fully electric Sealion 7 SUV and the hybrid Song Plus model.
Official registration data from Auto Swiss doesn’t specifically include sales from the brand yet. However, according to data from EU-EVs, 42 BYD vehicles were sold in Switzerland last month, up from the 6 registered in April.
The carmaker recorded 583 vehicles in Portugal, according to ACAP, a surge of 335.1% from the 134 sold a year ago.
According to EU-EVs, BYD was the best-selling brand in Spain last month, with 1,019 vehicles sold and a 10.6% market share — up from 640 in April and from 203 a year ago.
Besides 1 Tang SUV, all BYD models available in the country had sales above the 100-unit threshold. The Dolphin Surf, which was launched on May 8, represented 104 of the total vehicles registered.
The model is a best-seller in its domestic market, where prices start from 55,800 yuan ($7,800) after a 20% cut late last month.
It became the cheapest model in the lineup of several European markets. In Spain, prices start from €19,990, while in Italy, where the launch event was held, the model begins at €19,490.
Data from EU-EVs showed that BYD sold 703 vehicles in the Italian market last month, ranking as the third best-selling brand — below Tesla, which sold 849 EVs, and Ford, which sold 959 units.
Compared to the 50 units listed a year ago, sales surged 1306.0%. The company expanded to Italy in 2023, with the fully electric Atto 3 SUV and the Han sedan.
Monthly registration data was not yet disclosed from Turkey, where BYD has been present since 2023. BYD sold 5,397 vehicles in April in the Turkish market.
In Greece, and according to official data from AMVIR, the company sold 158 vehicles in April, however there is no data available yet for May’s sales.
As of the time of writing, the same applies to registrations from Austria, Hungary, Poland and Belgium.
BYD expanded to Romania last month, after it entered Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia in April. Earlier this year, the brand had also arrived to Serbia and Estonia.
However, no data has been disclosed regarding sales in those countries.
BYD delivered 382,476 units in May, a 14% increase year over year. Fully electric vehicles made up 54.2% of BYD’s total passenger vehicle deliveries in May, marking the second month in a row that BEV deliveries surpassed PHEVs.
Meanwhile, sales overseas reached 89,047 vehicles last month — a 137.5% growth from May 2024. The company posted a new record-high in international sales for the sixth consecutive month.
