BYD told analysts it still expects to sell 1.5 million vehicles outside China in 2026, even after a weak earnings report. The figure is 15% above the 1.3 million it projected in January, according to Reuters.
The earnings were the problem. Net income fell 38% in the fourth quarter, worse than the market had expected, and annual profit slid 19%, the first yearly drop in four years. Fiercer competition, softer demand at home and heavy price cutting in China all played a part. Rival Geely also passed BYD in global sales over the first two months of 2026.
Exports are carrying more weight. Overseas sales more than doubled in 2025 to nearly 1.1 million vehicles, or 22.7% of overall revenue. Early 2026 figures put exports at about half of total sales, and the company said foreign markets could soon make up roughly that share on a lasting basis.
Building abroad
To back the push, BYD is planning factories in Hungary and Turkey and weighing a third site. It has also suggested that buying an established automaker could speed its entry into new markets.
Selling abroad brings its own work: dealer networks, regulatory compliance, tariffs, logistics and customers who do not yet know the brand. BYD has not entered the US market.
