September 2025 marked contrasting performances for two of China’s largest automakers: BYD and Geely. While BYD — the long-standing leader in New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) — reported a rare sales decline, Geely achieved record-breaking results thanks to its Galaxy brand and growing momentum in both BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) and PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles).
BYD: First Sales Decline in Years
BYD sold 396,270 NEVs in September, representing a 5.52% year-over-year drop. This decline was mostly driven by PHEVs, which fell 25.58% — the sixth straight month of contraction in that category.
- BEV sales, however, remained strong, up 24.31% YoY, with 205,050 units delivered.
- The passenger car segment decreased by 5.88% YoY.
- Commercial NEVs rose sharply, up 76.08% YoY.
- Exports more than doubled, reaching 71,256 units.
- Battery installations grew 17.17% YoY, totaling 23.2 GWh.
This mixed performance shows BYD’s reliance on BEVs and overseas markets to offset domestic PHEV weakness.
Geely: Record-Breaking Momentum
Geely’s September was a different story: 273,125 vehicles sold, up 35.24% YoY. The growth was powered by its Galaxy brand, which delivered 120,868 units, soaring 131.06% YoY.
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CLICK HERE- BEVs: 99,516 units (+54.56% YoY).
- PHEVs: 65,685 units (+145.58% YoY).
- Exports: 40,665 units (+3.78% YoY).
Other Geely Group brands like Zeekr and Lynk & Co also contributed to this surge, confirming the company’s diversified strategy.
Brazil: BYD Leads, Geely Expands
In Brazil, BYD holds over 70% of BEV sales, with the Dolphin Mini as the top-selling pure EV. Meanwhile, Geely is expanding with the EX5 SUV and preparing to launch the EX2 (Xingyuan) in the compact EV segment.
Market Implications
The contrast between BYD and Geely highlights shifting consumer preferences in China’s competitive NEV landscape:
- BYD is increasingly dependent on BEVs and exports to balance PHEV declines.
- Geely is gaining ground with a balanced portfolio and the strong performance of the Galaxy brand.
This dynamic illustrates that China’s NEV market is far from saturated, with different strategies yielding very different outcomes.
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