BYD January Sales Fall 30% YoY, But German Deliveries Jump Over 1,000%
BYD's January 2026 NEV sales declined by over 30% year over year, marking a fifth consecutive month of contraction following reduced subsidies and heightened domestic EV competition. Conversely, BYD's January deliveries in Germany soared more than 1,000% YoY, outpacing Tesla's sub-2% increase and driving its rapid European market expansion.
1. BYD’s German Sales Surge Over 1000% in January
In January 2026, BYD delivered 12,500 electric vehicles in Germany, marking a year-on-year increase of 1,020% and solidifying its position as the fastest-growing EV brand in Europe’s largest car market. By comparison, Tesla’s sales in Germany edged up just 1.8% to 14,200 units, underscoring BYD’s rapidly expanding footprint. BYD achieved this growth through a combination of aggressive pricing on its Atto 3 and Dolphin models and an expanded dealership network that grew by 35 outlets in the past year. Industry data shows BYD now commands a 15.4% share of the German EV market, up from just 1.4% in January 2025.
2. January Domestic NEV Sales Decline Extends to Five Months
Despite its overseas gains, BYD’s January 2026 new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in China slid 32.4% year-on-year to 245,600 units, marking the fifth consecutive month of declines. The downturn reflects the phase-out of central government subsidies, which shrank by 20% in January, and intensifying competition from new entrants. BYD’s January volumes were led by the Han luxury sedan and Seal executive model, which together accounted for 55% of total sales, but could not offset weaker demand for its lower-priced Dolphin and Yuan PLUS offerings. Management has signaled plans to launch three new models in Q2 and boost marketing investments by 15% to arrest the slide.