BYD has reportedly become China’s top-selling car brand, moving on top of Volkswagen in the charts for the first time in the first quarter of 2023. According to automotive industry data compiled by Bloomberg, the electric vehicle automaker sold more than 440,000 cars in its domestic market in the first three months of the year, putting it ahead of its German rival.
In the same period, Volkswagen – which has been the best-selling automotive brand in China for at least a decade and a half – managed 427,247 units from sales under its brand, with EVs accounting for only 6%.
The company has acknowledged that the Chinese carmaker is a potent competitor. “BYD is very, very strong,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said during Auto Shanghai 2023 earlier this month. However, he added that not everything was about volume. “We want to have a successful business, and it is more important to be the best international group here in China,” he said.
In 2022, BYD sold 1.86 million fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, more than it did in the previous four years combined, outperforming Tesla’s 1.3 million units. In the first quarter of that year, the cars it sold accounted for two in every five new-energy vehicles delivered in China.
This year, the company has sold almost 550,000 cars globally in the first three months, and it has been intensifying its push overseas, prioritising Europe, Latin America and markets around Asia, in a bid to increase its numbers. According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Joanna Chen, the brand has said it is aiming to sell at least three million vehicles this year, possibly as many as 3.7 million units.
The introduction of new models such as the Seagull will aid that push. On April 19, the company said it had received more than 10,000 orders for its budget hatchback – which sits below the Dolphin in its line-up – within 24 hours after the pre-sale for it began. Earlier this week, it reduced the price of the Seagull by 5,000 yuan (RM3,215) in a bid to attract more buyers.
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EV is taking over
But we are still good
Cheap fuel, small country
Not much impact to environment
BYD registers their sales figures as cars delivered to dealerships, not cars actually sold and registered to customers. Typical dishonest china company. People should also check out the occasional uproar on Weibo with BYD’s Blade batteries catching fire despite them claiming there’s no fire risk. Such revelations won’t remain long online, of course.. China being what it is..
Hi sour grapes, data speaks the truth
dealership also buy car from factory one, then only they sell to customer. 21st century oredi at least google first la, people read your comment will think why malaysia so katak bawah tempurung. Small dealership will buy a few units from factory first, P2 also do like that, I bought mine from authorised seller, booking fee rm500, 2 weeks get car, go P2 official sales gallery need to Q for 2mths, why like that? cause the small dealership pay first la, they bought what they think can sell 2 mths earlier, business world no money then you line up at the back. Hard facts.
China numba one!
Fire protection insurance not available. Bakar Your Duit
one day vw gonna be like nokia. not relevant anymore.
Volkswagen has been around for almost 100 years. Nokia was a new brand then and even now. You cant compare the two. Volkswagen has heritage and massive amount of fixed assets around the world. Nokia did not own much assets even during its peak. So Volkswagen will still be around long after BYD and others.