BYD’s European Expansion Gains Momentum as Sales Surge

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The Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is accelerating its international growth strategy, with Europe emerging as a particularly strong market. Recent data reveals explosive sales growth on the continent, complemented by strategic moves in India and a deepened technology partnership with ExxonMobil.

According to figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), BYD achieved a landmark 187,657 new vehicle registrations across the EU, EFTA, and the UK in 2025. This represents a staggering 268.6% increase from the 50,912 units registered in 2024.

The year ended with a powerful surge. December alone saw 27,678 new BYD vehicles registered, a year-on-year jump of 229.7%. Consequently, BYD's share of the total European car market expanded to 2.4% in December 2025, a significant rise from just 0.8% in the same month the previous year.

Focusing solely on the European Union, growth remained robust. Full-year 2025 registrations reached 128,827, up 227.8%, with December accounting for 18,008 units, a 167.1% increase. BYD's EU market share for December climbed to 1.9%, compared to 0.7% a year earlier. This expansion contrasts with the performance of competitor Tesla, whose European registrations fell 26.9% in 2025 to 238,656 vehicles.

Strategic ExxonMobil Partnership Extends Beyond Lubricants

In tandem with its sales progress, BYD is forging key industrial alliances. The company has signed a long-term strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with energy leader ExxonMobil to deepen collaboration on hybrid vehicle technology, as reported by Reuters.

The agreement builds upon an existing relationship where the partners developed a specialized motor oil for BYD's plug-in hybrid models. The new MoU is set to broaden the scope of cooperation, encompassing tailored research and development initiatives, potential work on new materials, and the establishment of joint standards for hybrid technologies.

Indian Market Growth and Localization Plans

Despite challenging import conditions, BYD is also making headway in India. Industry reports indicate the automaker is exploring options to strengthen its presence there, including the potential for local vehicle assembly. Sales in India grew approximately 88% in 2025 to around 5,500 units. This growth is notable given that fully imported cars can attract duties as high as 110%.

India currently restricts imports of fully built models to a maximum of 2,500 vehicles per year per model. To navigate this, BYD is reportedly considering assembling vehicles from Semi-Knocked-Down (SKD) kits. This approach could substantially reduce applicable import tariffs from about 70% to roughly 30%.

Key Data Points:
* Europe 2025 Registrations: 187,657 (+268.6% vs. 2024)
* Europe December Registrations: 27,678 (+229.7% vs. prior year)
* India 2025 Sales: ~5,500 (+88% vs. prior year)
* ExxonMobil Partnership: Long-term MoU on hybrid technology signed

Context: Data from CnEVPost shows that in 2025, BYD sold 2,256,714 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), surpassing Tesla's 1,636,129 BEV sales for the year.

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