BYD's Fangchengbao Tops 600,000 Sales While Brussels and Beijing Put a Lid on Hybrid Exports

BYD's premium off-road brand Fangchengbao has passed 600,000 cumulative vehicle sales, the Chinese automaker said, with media reports putting September deliveries for the marque at 43,181 units — a 79% jump on the same month a year earlier. The milestone lands as the group leans harder on higher-priced segments at home, even as its export ambitions in Europe run into a widening thicket of trade restrictions.

Those Fangchengbao numbers slot into a broader surge. BYD shifted 463,561 new-energy vehicles in September, its strongest month of 2026 so far and a 17% gain year on year, according to Reuters. The product offensive behind that figure is still gathering pace: the Da Han electric sedan went on sale in China on 13 October, with prices starting at 235,900 RMB and running to 275,900 RMB across three variants. Rear-wheel-drive versions are rated at up to 1,008 km on the Chinese CLTC test cycle.

Paris Showcase and a Charging Rollout in Indonesia

At the Paris Motor Show, BYD unwrapped the seven-seat ATTO 8, a flagship SUV built for European buyers and fitted with a 115 kWh second-generation Blade Battery plus the company's in-house FLASH Charging fast-charging system. The brand's technology-led Denza premium models also took to the stand, aimed squarely at wealthier customers.

Infrastructure is following the cars abroad. On 14 October, BYD launched Flash Charging in Indonesia alongside the Denza D9 and Z9GT, both using the second-generation Blade Battery. The system delivers a 10% to 70% charge in five minutes on company figures, and BYD plans 100 charging stations in the country by the end of 2026.

Local Production Under Consideration in France

Europe's regulatory squeeze is shaping the company's manufacturing thinking. Executive Vice President Stella Li said on 12 October that BYD is closely weighing a plant in France and is also looking at other European sites. France sits on the shortlist, though no final investment decision has been taken.

The backdrop is a deal between China and the European Union to cap Chinese hybrid vehicle exports into the bloc. Reuters reports that more than 90% of Chinese hybrid volume in the EU comes from just three manufacturers — BYD, SAIC and Chery — so curbs in that segment bite directly into sales plans. BYD has characterised the agreement as short-term pressure while insisting it remains committed to Europe.

Tax Rebate Cut Adds to the Squeeze

Closer to home, Beijing is tightening the screws on export economics. China's finance ministry has said it will cut the VAT rebate on exports of alternative-drive vehicles to 9% from 13%, effective 1 April 2027 — a change that could meaningfully erode export margins for Chinese carmakers.

On the plus side, BYD has secured a high-profile role as official vehicle partner of the APEC summit in 2026, supplying models from its BYD, Denza, Yangwang and Fang Cheng Bao brands for conference transport.

Board Meets as Shares Languish

The company's board convenes on 29 October 2026 to review and approve results for the third quarter and the first nine months of the year, a set of figures that should show how the model offensive is faring against the trade headwinds. Investors have been cautious: the stock closed at EUR 8.34 on Friday in European trading and sits at EUR 8.36, down 22% since the start of the year. How far operating growth can offset margin risk in the export business is the question the nine-month numbers will have to answer.