LONDON: 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 or NEVs.
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.
BYD UK country manager Bono Ge 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.
"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.
BYD plans to introduce its breakthrough Flash Charging, capable of charging a vehicle from 10% to 97% in just nine minutes.
