Korean Media: 17 Million Vehicles, BYD Sets a New World Record Again!
On August 8, South Korean media outlet Seoul Economic Daily published an article stating that the cumulative production of environmentally friendly vehicles by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has surpassed 17 million units, setting a new world record. This production expansion is primarily driven by the rapid growth in overseas sales.
Recently, BYD held a ceremony at its factory in Xi'an, China, to celebrate the milestone of exceeding 17 million cumulative units of eco-friendly vehicles produced. This means that since surpassing 15 million units in December 2025, BYD has added another 2 million units within just seven months. Previously, it took only 13 months for BYD to grow from 10 million to 15 million units. Currently, the pace of BYD’s production growth is accelerating.
The 17 millionth vehicle to roll off the production line is the recently launched flagship sedan, the Sealion 08. The Sealion 08 is available in both pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle variants, with local pricing in China ranging from 196,900 RMB to 239,900 RMB.
According to BYD, global sales totaled 1,808,511 units in the first half of this year, with overseas sales of passenger cars and pick-ups (789,367 units) increasing by 68% year-on-year, driving overall performance growth.
The share of BYD's overseas sales in total sales volume is rapidly rising. In June, BYD's new energy vehicle sales (403,472 units) increased by 5.5% year-on-year, while overseas sales surged by 94.7% to 175,349 units—the highest monthly figure ever recorded. This surge is mainly due to BYD's accelerated expansion into overseas markets including Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. In the first half of this year, total passenger car exports from China rose by over 70% compared to the same period last year.
Recently, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu set a goal to become the world’s largest automaker within five years. According to reports, BYD’s overseas sales target for this year is 1.5 million units. The company is also simultaneously building overseas manufacturing bases. Its vertically integrated structure—covering in-house production of key EV components such as batteries, motors, and power semiconductors—is considered a crucial factor supporting its pricing strength and supply chain competitiveness.
Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1872921043970048/
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