BYD sold about 490,000 new-energy vehicles in October — a record month for the Chinese carmaker, and one driven by exports, which more than doubled in a year.
BYD reported sales of about 490,000 new-energy vehicles in October 2026, up about 11% year on year, according to Reuters — the strongest month of 2026 so far. The January-to-October total is about 3.6 million, down 2.16% year on year, as soft demand at home and a price war in China hold back the domestic market.
Exports did the heavy lifting. BYD shipped about 170,000 vehicles overseas in October, up 102.84% year on year — more than double — offsetting the soft home market. The company is now one of the world’s biggest car exporters, and its overseas growth is the story of its year.
A new model — and a scam warning
BYD also launched the second-generation Seal 07 on Thursday, November 5, in China, as a battery-electric car or a DM-i plug-in hybrid. The electric version claims a range of 775 kilometres on the CLTC cycle, with Flash Charging, and pricing with a trade-in starts from 135,900 yuan.
On Friday, November 7, BYD’s fraud-prevention unit warned of counterfeit recall letters circulating in China, falsely claiming a brake-pedal defect and seeking personal and banking details. Genuine recalls are free, BYD said, and are communicated through authorised dealers — they never require payment or bank details. The company also denied online claims that it is shutting down in-house production of its “God’s Eye C” driver-assistance system, saying no third-party replacement is planned.
The market’s verdict
Not everyone is convinced. Piper Sandler cut its price target for BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares from HK$95 to HK$74, keeping a neutral rating. But the shares closed up 1.7% at €8.54 on Friday, and the October sales record — driven by exports — suggests the company’s bet on overseas markets is paying off.
For buyers, the Seal 07 is the model to watch: a 775-kilometre range and Flash Charging at a starting price of 135,900 yuan with a trade-in puts it in the heart of the Chinese market, where BYD is fighting a price war with rivals. The fake recall letters are a reminder for owners everywhere: a genuine recall never asks for bank details, and any letter that does should be treated as a scam.
