BYD ups its overseas sales target for 2026 even further

BYD announced its 1.3 million international shipments target for 2026 a couple of months ago. Still, during an analyst call, the Chinese car manufacturer adjusted its plans and is aiming for 1.5 million overseas sales.

To be frank, even the 1.3 million target sounds ambitious as it represents a solid 24% year-on-year growth. On the other hand, the company managed to ship 1,046,083 NEV (New Energy Vehicle) units in 2025, which in turn was more than a 150% increase in global sales compared to 2024.

According to people familiar with the matter, BYD is looking for a hedge against potentially declining domestic sales. The Chinese market is starting to cool off, while competition continues to rise. So, increasing international shipments will definitely help the company maintain a favorable market position.

Other Chinese manufacturers are also making the push. XPeng recently announced its plans to focus more on its international sales, Xiaomi is getting ready to ship its SU7 sedan overseas, and Geely is eyeing the US market.

BYD's efforts are already paying off, though, as the company dethroned Tesla in Europe for two consecutive months. It remains to be seen how well it will do internationally this year.

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