BYD overtook Volkswagen as the top-selling car brand in China through November.
Data from China Merchants Bank International (CMBI) reveals that BYD sold a total of 152,863 vehicles across the country between November 1 and November 27, marking an increase of nearly 83 percent in average daily sales compared to the same period a year earlier.
Volkswagen sold a total of 143,602 vehicles during the same period while Toyota shifted 115,272 units. Volkswagen’s sales were down 0.3 percent from the year prior. Reuters notes that Volkswagen outsold BYD when including the Audi brand which sold 36,847 vehicles.
While sales data for the final few days of November is not yet available, it seems likely that BYD will have officially snatched the crown from VW. This would mark the first time that it had topped the sales charts in China and also make it the first company that only sells plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles to do so.
Read: BYD Temporarily Pauses Atto 3 Deliveries In Australia Over Child Seat Compliance Issue
Tesla has also enjoyed a very successful November in China with its sales almost doubling from a year earlier thanks in part to lower prices for the Model 3 and Model Y.
Interestingly, overall retail sales of cars produced in China have dropped 7 percent year-on-year through the first four weeks of November. Sales have dropped in part because the effect of incentives is thought to be waning and the country’s Covid-19 policies have kept consumers away from showrooms, further reducing demand and sales.
BYD has been steadily growing its presence outside of China throughout the year. It recently commenced sales of the all-electric Atto 3 in Australia and in October, announced that it will also soon launch the Atto 3, BYD Han sedan, and BYD Tang three-row SUV in Europe. It will also bring the BYD Seal to Europe as a Tesla Model 3 rival in 2023 and may also launch the BYD Dolphin as a rival to the VW ID.3.
