EL7.AI
StocksMedium•1 November 2026•
4 min read

BYD Reports October Sales of 490,168 Vehicles as Annual Growth Slows to 11%

Key Facts

1BYD's total sales reached 490,168 vehicles in October, its highest monthly level of 2026 up to that point.
2Battery-electric passenger cars recorded sales of 305,743 vehicles, up 37.38% year over year and setting a record for the third consecutive month.
3Overseas shipments of new energy vehicles reached 170,194, up 102.84% year over year and down 5.81% month over month.
4Domestic sales fell to 319,974 vehicles, down 10.57% year over year and up 13.12% month over month.

BYD said total sales reached 490,168 vehicles in October, its highest monthly level of 2026 up to that point, as sales continued to grow for a sixth consecutive month. But annual growth slowed to 11%, compared with a 17% increase in September, according to Reuters. The figures show a divergence between export momentum and weakness in the domestic market, as the company faces intense price competition in China. The figure of 305,743 refers to battery-electric passenger cars alone and does not represent the company's total sales. Sales in this category rose 37.38% year over year, setting a record for the third consecutive month.

The total included 305,743 battery-electric passenger cars, according to data cited by CnEVPost, up 37.38% year over year. The category therefore continued to set monthly records for the third consecutive time through October. This trend differs from BYD's total sales, which did not set a record in October, although they reached their highest monthly level of 2026 up to that point. The distinction shows that growth in battery-electric cars does not equal growth across all the company's vehicles at the same rate. The category's annual increase also came in a month when overall sales growth slowed compared with September.

Overseas, new energy vehicle shipments reached 170,194 in October, according to CnEVPost. Shipments increased 102.84% year over year but fell 5.81% from September, marking a second consecutive monthly decline. The two comparisons place the movement in different contexts: a successive slowdown from the previous month's peak, while shipments remain far above their level a year earlier. BYD said overseas sales of passenger cars and pickup trucks were close to 170,000 vehicles in October. The company's cumulative sales reached 3,621,744 vehicles between January and October 2026, according to its disclosure.

By contrast, domestic sales were 319,974 vehicles in October, down 10.57% year over year but up 13.12% from September. This means the monthly improvement did not prevent continued contraction compared with the previous year. Reuters said BYD is relying on overseas markets to counter weak demand and intense price competition in the domestic market. The domestic figures add detail to the overall growth picture: the domestic component declined year over year while overseas shipments surged year over year. Across China's auto market, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported annual growth of 4.4% in October, following 11.2% in September and 15.1% in August, according to AP.

BYD's reliance on overseas markets comes as its profit growth has also slowed. Profit rose 28% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, but growth was slower than in previous periods and below expectations, according to Reuters. In the context of the Chinese market, AP said some cities and provinces had reduced car trade-in subsidies in recent months. It also said a halving of the tax exemption for electric and hybrid cars was expected to begin in the year following its report. These developments put domestic sales under pressure linked to reduced support and price competition, while overseas markets remain a growth driver for the company.

On the product front, BYD is scheduled to launch the second generation of the Seal 07 on November 5, with battery-electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain options, according to CnEVPost. In Europe, Reuters noted that the company may face new restrictions under an agreement between China and the European Union aimed at limiting imports of hybrid cars into Europe. That puts BYD's overseas expansion before two variables: an upcoming new model launch and the possibility of changing terms for some cars entering the European market. The Seal 07 launch date follows October figures that showed a widening gap between strong annual export performance and a decline from September. The move also coincides with continued growth in battery-electric passenger cars and an annual decline in domestic sales.