Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD recorded its fifth consecutive month of year-on-year global sales growth in September 2026, supported by a sharp increase in overseas shipments as demand in its domestic market remains under pressure.
BYD sold 463,561 vehicles globally in September, up 17% from the same month last year. However, the growth rate moderated slightly from the 17.8% YoY increase recorded in August, according to Reuters calculations based on the company’s disclosure.
Exports continued to play an increasingly important role in BYD’s overall sales performance. Overseas shipments of passenger vehicles and pickups surged 153.9% YoY to 179,877 units in September.
For the first nine months of 2026, BYD sold 3,131,576 vehicles globally, including 1,337,831 passenger vehicles and pickups shipped to overseas markets.
Export Growth Supports BYD
The strong increase in overseas shipments comes as BYD faces intensifying competition in China, its home market. Domestic EV demand has remained challenging, while rivals continue to introduce new technologies and products.
Geely, for instance, has recently unveiled a faster-charging system, adding to the competitive pressure facing Chinese EV manufacturers.
With overseas markets becoming an increasingly important contributor to its sales, BYD is continuing to expand its international presence. According to brokerage estimates, the company’s overseas shipments could exceed 2.5 million vehicles in 2027.
The September sales performance highlights the growing contribution of international markets to BYD’s global volumes as the automaker navigates a more competitive domestic EV market.
