BYD outsold Ford, and now it thinks it can catch Toyota as the world’s No. 1 automaker
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- BYD sold over 4.6 million new‑energy vehicles (NEVs) last year, overtaking Ford and becoming the sixth‑largest global automaker.
- Wang Chuanfu, BYD’s chief executive, told shareholders the company will aim to be the world’s No. 1 automaker in scale within five years.
- BYD recorded overseas sales of more than 160,000 vehicles in May, a record monthly figure that reflects growing market share against Toyota, Volkswagen and others in Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, Mexico and Brazil.
- BYD launched its Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging system in March and opened the first Flash Charging stations in Europe and the UK, planning 300 UK chargers and 3,000 Europe chargers by the end of 2026.
- BYD introduced a 4nm smart‑driving chip that enables L3/L4 autonomous‑driving capabilities, which the company says provides “the highest level of vehicle intelligence.”
- Toyota and other OEMs such as Ford are sourcing batteries or EV components from BYD to keep pace with the industry’s electrification shift.
Why it matters: BYD’s surge to 4.6 million NEV sales and aggressive rollout of Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging give it a clear advantage over traditional automakers, accelerating its market‑share gain while forcing rivals such as Toyota and Ford to seek BYD‑supplied batteries and components.
