Reuters (Japan): BYD's exports surge in June. Comments from Japanese internet users

Reuters (Japanese version), July 2 report: BYD achieved year-on-year growth in global sales for the second consecutive month in June. Export growth significantly offset the downward trend in demand within China.

According to calculations by Reuters based on a document submitted by BYD to the stock exchange on July 1, total sales in June reached 403,472 units, up 5.5% compared to the same period last year. This follows May, which ended an eight-month streak of year-on-year decline with a slight increase of 0.3%.

In contrast, among BYD’s competitors, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology recorded the fastest growth, with electric vehicle sales increasing by 95% year-on-year to 93,376 units in June.

Notably, BYD’s overseas sales reached 175,349 units in June, marking a significant year-on-year increase of 94.7%, effectively offsetting the downturn in the domestic market. Domestic sales declined by 22%, continuing the year-on-year drop that began in May 2025.

Domestic new car sales in 2026 are projected to fall by 11%. The "going global" strategy for Chinese automakers has become an inevitable trend.

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Comments from Japanese internet users following Reuters (Japanese version)’s report:

“I’ve driven Japanese cars for many years, but two and a half years ago I switched to BYD’s ATTO3. The car is far better than I expected—no battery degradation or malfunctions at all. At 170 yen per kilowatt-hour, it averages 50 kilometers per unit of electricity. With its advanced technological capabilities, I believe BYD will achieve even greater progress on the global stage.”

“This is a very natural progression—perhaps many people are unwilling to accept it. But if the U.S. fails to extract wealth from China, its national strength will naturally decline, its influence will weaken, and its ability to dominate globally will diminish. Therefore, the U.S. must maintain and strengthen its global hegemony and dollar dominance. Venezuela and Iran supply oil to China, and the U.S. attempts to use force to undermine their energy supplies to China—but ultimately, the U.S. was defeated. In reality, thanks to the U.S., the global situation and liquidity have already changed. People around the world have come to realize that there are alternatives beyond the United States. While the U.S. can still claim global hegemony, China will independently contribute to global development and peace. Over the past decade, China has expanded its industries and infrastructure through the Belt and Road Initiative. Now, however, it has created a flow of wealth from Europe and the U.S. toward the Global South.”

“Japan has many excellent automobile manufacturers, yet I still worry about BYD’s reliability. To be honest, I’m curious about how well these vehicles perform and how easy they are to maintain. Unless BYD can address this concern, I think selling in Japan will be difficult.”

“Domestic Japanese cars can no longer compete with BYD on price. Car prices keep rising, making them unaffordable for ordinary Japanese citizens. Long-term maintenance and durability of domestically produced vehicles have also declined. The Japanese auto industry has followed the same path as white household appliances—it’s become too expensive for the poor in Japan to afford purely domestic cars.”

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869567212066120/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.