BYD’s Continued Reach Shows that it Can Challenge Big Players

The Chinese EV giant's upward trajectory continues. The post BYD’s Continued Reach Shows that it Can Challenge Big Players appeared first on Phandroid.

Jun 18, 2025 - 22:30

With all the advancements that we’ve seen with EVs over the past years, it’s safe to say that they’ve carved out a pretty solid space within the greater automobile industry, at least at this point in time. Dedicated EV manufacturers such as Tesla and even legacy brands such as Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, and more have all launched some rather-impressive vehicles over the years, showing that there is a definite market for electric cars.

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This has no doubt paved the way for newer brands like BYD (sometimes referred to as ‘Build Your Dreams’) and even companies like Xiaomi to enter the scene, both of which have resulted in some pretty solid EVs such as the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and BYD’s new Dolphin Surf, which was recently unveiled in London.

In BYD’s case, the company’s rise to the EV industry started from its more humble origins as a manufacturer of electronic components, competing with other OEMs such as Foxconn. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the company would enter the automotive market with the BYD F3, although this was a more “conventional” petrol car. Fast-forward to 2025, and BYD now has a larger roster of consumer-grade EVs, including sedans and SUVs, for example.

During the Dolphin Surf launch, BYD wasted no time in showing off some pretty impressive numbers. The company says that it’s now added 12 more countries to its European expansion, and adds that it’s sold around 25,000 units in regions such as the UK, with over 74 different retail locations nationwide.

Expanding further on its performance within the UK, the brand experienced impressive growth in the first quarter of 2025, selling 9,271 passenger cars, surpassing its total sales of 8,787 units for the entirety of 2024. This represents a 625% increase compared to Q1 2024, allowing its market share in the UK to go from 0.45% in 2024 to 1.6% in Q1 2025.

In fact, 2025 has been a rather bountiful year for the brand so far—back in April, it was even able to overtake bigger players such as Tesla, with the latter reporting a drop in volumes with as much as 49% YoY. By comparison, BYD’s market performance saw a massive 359% uptick over the same period. This is attributed to its varied lineup of hybrid and fully electric cars, and it was even able to outsell brands including Fiat, Dacia, and Seat in certain markets in Europe.

…back in April, it was even able to overtake bigger players such as Tesla, with the latter reporting a drop in volumes with as much as 49% YoY. By comparison, BYD’s market performance saw a massive 359% uptick over the same period.

It’s a feat that would have been unheard of years ago, especially when Tesla dominated EV markets worldwide. On the other hand, whether or not BYD can keep this momentum of course is another matter entirely—the EV landscape is continuously evolving, and manufacturers are constantly investing more into R&D to gain an upper hand on rival brands. There’s also the matter of the North American market, which as we all know isn’t too welcoming of Chinese-made products, due to a variety of factors.

Competition of course always favours consumers, so it’s great to see this growth from a brand that’s relatively “new” to the international automotive scene. One thing’s for sure, though—BYD has definitely shown that it can hold its own against the reigning Goliaths.

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