BYD's Domestic Sales Plunge 36%
China's EV giant BYD saw its domestic sales drop by 36% amid intense competition from rivals like Great Wall Motor. The company is now increasingly reliant on exports, selling over 100,000 units abroad last month. Meanwhile, BYD unveiled its second-gen Blade Battery, promising flash-charging from 10-70% in just 5 minutes.
The February sales dip reflects a wider market trend, influenced by the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday and the phasing out of new-energy vehicle purchase tax exemptions. Overall retail sales for electric and hybrid cars in China had already posted their first year-on-year decline in nearly two years back in January. While BYD's total sales stumbled, several domestic rivals posted strong gains in the first two months of 2026. Geely's Zeekr brand saw an 84% jump in deliveries, while Nio's sales rose 77%. Great Wall Motor's new energy vehicle sales surged by 154.1% over the same period. The strategic shift to exports is a key trend for major Chinese automakers facing what one analyst called "cutthroat" domestic competition. February marked the first time both BYD and Great Wall Motor sold more vehicles abroad than in mainland China. Chery Automobile, another major player, sold 80% of its total units overseas. BYD's international push is supported by new factories in Thailand and Hungary; the European
