Global Sales Surge Saves BYD as Domestic Market Weakens

By bike_ev_admin December 2, 2025 3 min read

Strong exports offset falling sales in China, signaling a major shift in BYD’s growth strategy

Few EV manufacturers are scrutinized as closely as BYD, the world’s leading New Energy Vehicle (NEV) maker. Its monthly sales figures often serve as a barometer for the entire Chinese EV industry — and November 2025 offers one of the clearest signs yet that BYD’s future increasingly lies outside its home market.

Despite achieving its highest monthly volume of the year, BYD recorded another year-over-year decline in domestic sales, marking the company’s third consecutive month of contraction in China. The only reason BYD avoided a deeper slump: an explosive surge in global demand.

BYD Hits 480,186 NEV Sales in November — But Domestic Sales Slide

In November, BYD sold 480,186 NEVs, its best monthly result of the year.
However:

Sales fell 5.25% YoY
Third straight annual decline
Potential signs of increased competition or market saturation in China

Month-to-month, the picture was more positive:

+8.71% vs. October
Passenger NEVs: 474,921 units (–5.77% YoY, +8.71% MoM)

Exports Explode: BYD’s International Sales Up 325.9%

If domestic numbers were disappointing, overseas results were the exact opposite.

BYD Export Highlights — November 2025

131,935 NEVs exported (record)
+325.91% YoY
+57.25% MoM

BYD’s international expansion — from Southeast Asia to Europe and Latin America — is now paying off massively.

From January to November, exports hit:

912,911 units shipped abroad
+153.55% YoY

Global markets are officially carrying the company.

BEV Strength vs. PHEV Weakness: A Tale of Two Segments

BYD’s sales split clearly shows where momentum is — and where it isn’t.

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

237,540 BEVs sold in November
+19.93% YoY
+6.73% MoM
Strongest segment for BYD
Growing preference for pure electric models in China

Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs)

237,381 PHEVs sold in November
–22.41% YoY
Eighth consecutive monthly decline
Still +10.77% MoM, but overall downward trend

Chinese consumers may be shifting toward:

pure BEVs, or
rival brands offering newer PHEV technology

Commercial NEVs and Battery Business Also See Strong Growth

Commercial NEV sales:

5,265 units
+87.97% YoY

Battery installations:

November: 27.7 GWh (+23.13% YoY)
January–November: 258.3 GWh (+50.86% YoY)

BYD’s battery division — which includes EV packs and grid-scale energy storage — continues to expand rapidly.

Year-to-Date: BYD Still Growing Overall

Despite the domestic slowdown, BYD’s total 2025 performance remains positive:

Jan–Nov 2025 NEV Sales

4,182,038 NEVs sold (+11.30% YoY)
Passenger NEVs: 4,130,639 (+10.42%)

By powertrain type

BEVs: 2,066,002 (+32.67%)
PHEVs: 2,064,637 (–5.45%)

The trend is clear: BEVs continue to rise, while PHEVs are beginning to decline, especially in China.

Conclusion: BYD’s Global Pivot Is No Longer Optional — It’s Essential

November’s data makes one thing clear:

BYD is becoming a global automaker because it must — not because it wants to.

China is maturing and becoming fiercely competitive
Domestic PHEV demand is softening
Global markets are exploding with demand for affordable EVs
Exports have become the company’s most important growth engine

If BYD can continue scaling its international presence while defending its BEV leadership at home, the company is poised to maintain — and even extend — its position as the world’s top NEV manufacturer.