BYD has announced that it has produced its 15 millionth new energy vehicle, encompassing both fully electric and plug-in hybrid models. This milestone is significant due to the remarkable speed at which it was achieved. While it took 13 years to build the first million cars, the company reached from 10 million to 15 million vehicles in just 13 months, highlighting the surging global demand for electric vehicles.
The landmark vehicle was a Denza N8L, a six-seat large SUV popular with families seeking fuel efficiency. This plug-in hybrid starts at RMB 299,800 (approximately €36,400). It was manufactured at BYD's factory in Jinan, China, a facility that began production only three years ago.
BYD originally began as a battery manufacturer in 1995, entering the automotive market in 2003. Its first electric car, the F3DM, debuted in 2008 when electric vehicles had limited appeal. In March 2022, BYD made a strategic decision to cease production of purely gasoline-powered cars. Since then, all their vehicles come with plug-in capability. The company currently employs over 900,000 people, including nearly 110,000 engineers and researchers.
Between January and November, BYD sold 4,182,038 vehicles, marking an 11.3% increase year-over-year. International sales also reached new heights, with 917,000 units sold outside China in the first 11 months of the year. The company now operates in over 110 regions globally and produced its 14 millionth vehicle at a new factory in Brazil in October.
Research and development are pivotal to BYD's success. In the first three quarters of 2025 alone, the company invested 43.75 billion RMB (about €5.29 billion) in R&D, summing to more than 220 billion RMB over the years. Investment focuses include innovations like "Flash Charging," which enables battery charges almost as quickly as refueling with gas, and advanced self-driving technologies to enhance road safety.
Europe represents BYD's next major growth market. The company currently sells vehicles in 33 European countries across approximately 1,000 locations. BYD plans to double its dealership network by the end of 2026 and will launch new models in the region, including the powerful Z9GT expected next year.
Source
