Chinese automaker BYD has achieved a significant production milestone in the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sector, with a total of 6,000,000 units rolling off its assembly lines since 2008. In April 2022, the company made a strategic shift by discontinuing all internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and directing its focus solely toward NEVs, encompassing plug-in hybrids, range-extenders, and fully electric vehicles.
BYD proudly claims the title of being the world’s first automaker to reach this milestone. However, it’s important to note that this achievement is specific to NEVs, as other manufacturers have produced a larger number of electrified vehicles in various categories. For instance, Toyota announced the production of 15 million self-charging hybrids in 2020. Meanwhile, Tesla reached the 5-million-unit milestone for pure EVs in September 2023, with plans to hit the 6 million mark in early 2024.
The six-millionth vehicle from BYD is the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5, which recently rolled off the production line at the Zhengzhou factory. This plug-in hybrid SUV, slightly smaller than the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, made its debut last August, with production and deliveries commencing in November.
More: BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5 Is A Toyota Land Cruiser Rival From China
BYD Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5
A look at BYD’s previous production milestones makes it clear that NEV sales are increasing at an unprecedented rate. More specifically, it took BYD 13 years to manufacture its first million NEVs, just 1 year for the second million, and a mere 6 months for the third million. Subsequently, the company achieved an additional 2 million NEVs in the following 9 months. Finally, the sixth million mark was reached in only 3 months, primarily due to increased production capacity.
Recent data indicates that PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle) sales are experiencing rapid growth in China. This surge in popularity can be attributed to their affordability compared to BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), their comparable features, and their reduced dependence on charging infrastructure, making them a compelling choice for consumers and a continued focus for local automakers.
BYD has 9 factories that produce PHEV and BEV passenger vehicles across China. These are located in the cities of Xian, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Changzhou, Xiangyang, Hefei, Changsha, Fuzhou, and Shenzhen.
In addition to the Chinese market, which represents the largest volume, BYD exports cars to 57 countries worldwide. As part of its global expansion strategy, the company plans to establish new factories outside of China, with locations including Thailand and Brazil. Notably, BYD recently introduced the Han sedan in the United Arab Emirates and inaugurated a new flagship showroom in Dubai to support its presence in the Middle East.
