China’s EV king BYD builds export momentum, expects sales abroad to top 20% this year

In 2024, BYD’s sales outside the mainland accounted for less than 10 per cent of its total of 4.26 million deliveries

Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) king BYD expects exports to make up about 20 per cent of its global sales this year, spurred by improved logistics and new model launches.

The Shenzhen-based carmaker forecasts 800,000 to 1 million deliveries outside mainland China in 2025, compared with projected total sales of 4.6 million units, said Li Yunfei, the company’s general manager of branding and public relations.

“We estimate that the proportion of our overseas sales would hit 20 per cent this year,” he said in a media briefing last week. “International deliveries will make a greater contribution in the years to come.”

In 2024, BYD’s sales outside the mainland accounted for less than 10 per cent of its total of 4.26 million deliveries.

Li said BYD’s own fleet of car-carrier ships supported the export surge. The carmaker now has eight large vessels, the largest of which can transport 9,200 vehicles. The ships ply ocean routes connecting China with major overseas markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia.

BYD would also work to expand its line-up of vehicles for overseas markets by introducing all of its China-developed cars to international motorists, he said.

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