The UK has emerged as BYD’s largest market outside its home country of China, thanks to an incredible surge in sales. BYD sold 11,271 vehicles in the UK in September 2025 alone, marking an 880 percent increase compared to the same month last year. In total, BYD delivered 35,600 cars in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing popular brands including Mini and Tesla in the UK market.
This surge has propelled BYD’s market share in the UK to 3.6 percent, making it the second most popular ev brand after Tesla. Remarkably, this growth happened despite BYD vehicles being excluded from the UK government’s electric vehicle grant scheme due to emissions concerns.
Popular models like the plug-in hybrid Seal U and the all-electric Sealion 7 are key drivers behind BYD’s success. The Seal U DM-i topped the plug-in hybrid segment in March 2025, and the Seal ranked seventh among pure electric vehicles. BYD also recently opened a battery production plant in the UK to support growing demand for electric buses and cars.
This rapid expansion highlights the attractiveness of the UK market for Chinese ev makers. The UK’s lack of tariffs on Chinese electric models, combined with BYD’s competitive pricing and wide range, has clearly won over British consumers.
As electric vehicle sales reached a record high of nearly 73,000 in September, BYD’s rise reflects a broader shift towards electrification in the UK. BYD looks set to continue growing and challenging established players in Europe’s vibrant electric car market.
