- BYD says 2026 sales hinge on battery production capacity with 2027 set for a major ramp-up.
- BYD sold 376,990 passenger vehicles in May and saw overseas sales surge 80.7% year‑on‑year.
- BYD plans ~3,000 European megawatt flash‑charging stations by end‑2026 while pushing Level‑3/4 autonomy.
On June 9, BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting that BYD’s sales performance this year will largely depend on battery production capacity.
As battery output continues to increase, the company still expects solid growth this year, while a much larger capacity release is expected next year.
Once production ramp-up is completed, both domestic and overseas markets are expected to contribute more significantly to growth.
Wang noted that BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and megawatt flash-charging technology, unveiled in March, have attracted widespread attention from both domestic and international markets.
However, battery production capacity for these technologies remains insufficient.
According to Wang, BYD is currently expanding battery capacity at a pace equivalent to supporting an additional 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles per month.
However, the second-generation Blade Battery adopts new material systems, including a lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) composite cathode and silicon-carbon anode technology, placing higher demands on manufacturing processes.
Some existing production lines require extensive upgrades, while commissioning and ramp-up procedures are more complex than those for conventional battery technologies, preventing an immediate release of full production capacity.
Recent sales figures suggest demand remains strong. Data show BYD sold 376,990 passenger vehicles in May, up 19.4% from April and 8.2% year-on-year.
Overseas markets continued to serve as a major growth driver. BYD’s overseas sales of passenger vehicles and pickups reached 160,177 units in May, up 80.7% year-on-year and setting a new record.
As overseas deliveries continue to rise, BYD is simultaneously expanding its charging infrastructure.
In May, the company’s first European megawatt flash-charging station entered operation in Germany.
Under current plans, BYD intends to build around 3,000 flash-charging stations across Europe by the end of 2026.
Approximately 300 of those sites are expected to be deployed in Germany through the company’s dealer network.
During the shareholder meeting, Wang also discussed intelligent driving and BYD’s international expansion strategy.
He revealed that more than 3.15 million BYD smart-driving-equipped vehicles are currently operating worldwide, collectively generating around 200 million kilometers of driving data every day.
Wang said he believes the commercialization timeline for Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving could be accelerated as artificial intelligence technologies advance and regulatory frameworks become more mature.
According to the company, BYD has already established capabilities across chips, algorithms, data infrastructure and global testing systems.
Once relevant regulations take effect, BYD plans to introduce products compliant with Level 3 autonomous driving standards and promote them across overseas markets including Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America.
On overseas expansion, BYD reaffirmed its previously announced target of exporting 1.6 million vehicles in 2026 and indicated that actual exports could exceed that figure.
To mitigate the impact of rising trade barriers worldwide, the company plans to further localize production in markets including Brazil, Europe, Thailand and India.
Wang said the company aims to be the “true global No. 1” in scale by 2030, with major growth expected over the coming five years.
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