BYD Reports 880% Surge in UK Sales, Making Britain Its Biggest Market Outside China
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has recorded a staggering 880% increase in its UK sales for September, cementing Britain as its largest market outside China.
According to the company, it sold 11,271 vehicles during the month, driven largely by strong demand for the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U SUV. The surge coincides with data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which revealed that electric vehicle (EV) sales in the UK hit an all-time high in September.
Unlike the European Union and the United States, which have imposed tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, the UK remains an open market for brands like BYD. This, coupled with the company’s competitive pricing, has helped its UK market share climb to 3.6%.
BYD’s UK manager, Bono Ge, described the company’s outlook as “hugely exciting” and confirmed that several new hybrid and fully electric models will be launched in the coming months. The company also recently celebrated the opening of its 100th retail outlet in Britain.
Industry figures show that nearly 73,000 battery electric vehicles were registered in the UK last month, while plug-in hybrid sales grew even faster. The Kia Sportage, Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai topped the sales chart, with BYD’s Seal U and Jaecoo 7 breaking into the top ten.
Despite the record numbers, petrol and diesel cars still accounted for over half of all new registrations, according to the SMMT.
Globally, BYD continues to outperform rivals such as Tesla, BMW, and Jaguar in total sales. However, the company faces challenges in markets like the EU and US, where high tariffs have limited its expansion. The European Union introduced levies of up to 45% on Chinese EV imports last October, citing unfair state subsidies.
Meanwhile, the UK government’s £650 million incentive scheme for EV buyers – offering up to £3,750 in discounts on selected models – excludes Chinese-made vehicles due to environmental concerns about their production. BYD has criticised the move, warning that excluding Chinese brands could harm the long-term growth of the UK car market.
