BYD becomes UK’s largest Electric Vehicle brand
- BYD becomes the UK’s best-selling electric vehicle brand in 2026*
- BYD sold 12,754 electric cars between January and April, according to data from the SMMT – with over 7% market share
- The brand also becomes most popular electric vehicle brand for private buyers
- Pure electric and plug-in hybrid sales total 26,396 year-to-date, resulting in 9.5% market share
05 May 2026 BYD has become the UK’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV) brand, overtaking established brands such as Tesla, KIA, BMW and Volkswagen, with 12,754 electric vehicles sold in 2026 so far.
BYD has also, significantly, become the best-selling EV brand among private buyers, despite not being included in the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant.
Crucially, BYD is also doing well with its plug-in DM-i (Dual Mode intelligent) hybrid sales. The two power types combined are frequently referred to as ‘New Energy Vehicles’. In the UK year-to-date, its fully electric and plug-in hybrid sales hit an impressive 26,396 units, resulting in 9.5% UK market share. BYD currently sells three DM-i models, SEAL U, SEAL 6, SEALION 5, with ATTO 2 arriving soon, shortly followed by some extra siblings.
The UK EV market has grown by 22% overall, reflecting increasing consumer demand for sustainable mobility.
Bono Ge, Country Manager, BYD UK, said: “With fuel prices remaining high, more drivers are turning to electric vehicles as a smarter and more economical choice. We are delighted to see the UK EV market grow by 22% year-on-year, and even more proud that BYD has become the UK’s leading EV brand in a little over three years.
At BYD, we are committed to delivering outstanding value through high-tech electric vehicles that combine innovation, quality and affordability. But our ambition goes beyond building great cars. We are also bringing advanced technologies that unlock the full value of electrification, including Vehicle-to-Grid solutions that can help customers optimise energy use and reduce costs.
In parallel, BYD has been deploying home and utility-scale energy storage solutions to support a more efficient and affordable energy ecosystem. Looking ahead, we also plan to introduce our breakthrough FLASH Charging, capable of charging a vehicle from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes.”
*Based on SMMT data, January-April 2026
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About BYD
BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1994 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From power acquisition and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers six continents, over 100 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world. For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.
About BYD Auto
Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, the DM-i and DM-p hybrid technology, the e-Platform 3.0, the CTB and iTAC technologies, the DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, the XUANJI Architecture, and the Super e-Platform. The company is the world’s first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 12 years in a row.
About BYD Europe
BYD Europe is headquartered in the Netherlands and is the first overseas branch of BYD Group, with a commitment to evolving the international brand BYD Auto to deliver safe and efficient sustainable solutions in new energy vehicles through world-leading technological innovations.
For more information, please visit www.byd.com.
Contacts:
Mike Gale
Head of PR, BYD UK
E: michael.gale@byd.com
M: +44 7908 905678
Rachel Goodwin
PR Manager, BYD UK
E: rachel.goodwin@byd.com
M: +44 7399 678373
Alex Ingram
Press Officer, BYD UK
E: alex.ingram@byd.com
M: +44 7539 534571
