Japanese Media: BYD Surpasses Toyota in South America's Largest Car Market
According to Japanese media outlet Alterna, reporting on August 29: The largest automotive market in South America, Brazil, is witnessing a rapid acceleration in electric vehicle (EV) sales. By July 2026, the share of newly registered EVs rose to 10% for the first time, surpassing diesel vehicles.
China’s largest EV manufacturer, BYD, has also achieved significant sales growth, overtaking Toyota and rising to fourth place in new vehicle registrations. The shift toward automotive electrification in Brazil is accelerating due to the development of charging infrastructure and BYD’s localized production.
Data from the Brazilian Association of Electric Vehicles (ABVE) and the Brazilian Automotive Industry Association (ANFAVEA) show that new EV registrations in July reached 25,782 units—approximately 3.7 times higher than the same period last year (accounting for 9.7% of total car sales).
Meanwhile, according to ANFAVEA statistics, new diesel vehicle registrations in July increased by 6.4%, reaching 23,809 units (a year-on-year increase of 9.0%). For the first time, EV sales in July surpassed those of diesel vehicles.
Total new vehicle registrations in July amounted to 265,661 units, representing a 15.4% year-on-year increase.
The share of EVs in total new vehicle registrations has now expanded to 9.7%.
Four years ago, in July 2022, EV sales were only 442 units compared to 19,145 diesel vehicles—a difference of about 43 times. Yet this gap has been reversed within just four years.
EV registration numbers began accelerating rapidly early this year. While growth in 2025 was gradual, by March 2026, EVs set a record monthly sales figure of 14,000 units. Since then, sales have steadily grown, with July marking the first time they exceeded 25,000 units.
From January to July, cumulative EV registrations reached 116,408 units—about 3.1 times higher than the 37,592 units recorded during the same period last year. The share of EV registrations in total car sales has risen from 2.8% last year to 7.2% this year.
Brazil’s automotive market has unique characteristics distinct from other countries. The country is one of the world’s leading producers of bioethanol, and “flex-fuel vehicles” capable of running on both gasoline and ethanol derived from sugarcane are extremely popular.
According to ANFAVEA, new flex-fuel vehicle registrations in Brazil between January and July 2026 totaled 1,121,363 units, accounting for 69% of total car sales. However, this proportion has started to decline compared to 75% in the same period last year. The pace of EV development is clearly accelerating.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874820306025536/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.