October, BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, continues to outperform the American automotive giant Tesla in Europe:

In Germany, the number of new BYD vehicles registered was 4.4 times that of its competitor! BYD sold 3,300 units, while Tesla only sold 750 units.

In Spain, BYD saw a 3-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024, achieving 1,978 units and topping the list of pure electric vehicle brand sales for the first time in Spain. Tesla ranked 8th (393 units).

In the UK, the number of new BYD vehicles registered in a single month exceeded 10,000, nearly seven times that of Tesla……

European professionals like comparing BYD and Tesla

Lars Bialkowski, General Manager of BYD Germany, told Business Insider directly that the secret weapon of BYD surpassing Tesla is DM-i technology, which is plug-in hybrid technology. Especially due to the launch of the first plug-in hybrid station wagon Seal 6 DM-i Touring, as well as the strong growth in new registrations of the Seal U DM-i model.

"We are pleased to see that German consumers continue to show strong interest in our models. This record-breaking month shows that our innovative hybrid technology and highly attractive product portfolio can meet the needs of German consumers," he said. "With DM-i technology, we provide efficient, practical, and future-oriented solutions for sustainable mobility."

European media focuses on BYD surpassing Tesla

In 2022, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, dismissed hybrid cars as a "transitional phase" and said "it's time to look forward."

However, three years later, hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular around the world. In the first half of this year, hybrid car sales in Europe and the United States, where fuel-powered cars still dominate, increased significantly — a favorable situation for BYD, a competitor of Tesla, while Tesla itself is facing a decline in sales.

Data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) on Thursday showed that sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles in Europe increased by 52% compared to the same period last year.

Data from Argonne National Laboratory also showed that sales of hybrid cars (directly driven by internal combustion engines, without a charging port) in the United States increased by nearly 20% year-on-year in July. However, sales of pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids remained stable.

Li Ke, Vice President of BYD at IAA

The continued popularity of hybrid cars coincides with Tesla, a company that sells only pure electric vehicles, facing a global sales decline. ACEA data shows that despite an overall increase in electric vehicle sales, Tesla's sales in Europe (its third-largest market) fell by 40% in July.

Recently, Tesla has been frequently surpassed by BYD in European countries, with BYD's sales increasing by hundreds of percent. Despite the 17% tariff imposed by the EU on Chinese electric vehicles, BYD has still achieved this success.

These tariffs apply only to pure electric vehicles, not to hybrid vehicles. BYD's response is to increasingly focus on launching a variety of power system models in the European market.

Chinese new energy vehicles succeed in the European market

It is reported that about half of the cars sold by BYD in Europe are pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The best-selling model of BYD in the first half of 2025 is the Seal U, a hybrid vehicle priced at approximately 43,000 euros. BYD launched this model in Europe last year. In September, BYD plans to release the new "travel version" of the Seal 6 hybrid SUV in Germany and other countries, with an expected range of up to 1,500 kilometers.

On the contrary, Tesla's sales in the United States have also declined: according to data from the consulting company Cox Automotive, its second-quarter sales decreased by about 12%. The global delivery volume of Tesla so far has been disappointing. European experts believe that the reasons are its lackluster product lineup and increasing criticism due to controversial remarks by its CEO.

BYD's outdoor booth at the German IAA

Analysts previously told Business Insider that BYD is increasingly shifting its strategic focus to hybrid models to mitigate the impact of EU tariffs. This strategy also aligns better with the current situation in Europe. Currently, European drivers still generally worry about the scarcity of charging stations and the risk of not being able to charge their pure electric vehicles during long trips.

Most importantly, DM-i technology is a key technology that BYD has been developing for many years. Combined with other advantages such as integrated supply chain, large expansion of sales networks, and the reserve of automotive talent, BYD has secured the timing, location, and people for continuous success around the world.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7569944792088494638/

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