Nanjing, China – April 30, 2026 – Tourists visit the BYD exhibition area at Auto Expo in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China on April 30, 2026. (Photo credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photo | Future Publishing | Getty Images
BYDThe company’s passenger car sales in April declined for the eighth consecutive month, but domestic rivals Leap Motor and G-Car posted record monthly deliveries as market competition intensified.
BYD reported on Sunday that it delivered 314,100 new energy passenger vehicles, including battery electric and plug-in hybrid models, last month, down 15.7% year-on-year but up 6.2% from March, according to CNBC records.
According to a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, BYD’s exports hit a record high of 135,098 vehicles, an increase of more than 70% compared to the same period in 2025, according to CNBC calculations. The split between the Shenzhen-based automaker’s domestic and overseas fortunes highlights the company’s growing dependence on overseas markets as domestic competition intensifies.
The market-leading EV giant reported in April that its operating revenue fell 11.8% to 150 billion yuan ($22 billion) and its first-quarter profit fell nearly 55.4% year-on-year, as domestic competitors performed well in the first quarter.
2nd place Chinese EV manufacturer leap motor Monthly deliveries in April reached a record high of 71,387 vehicles, an increase of 73.9% compared to the same period in 2025. StellantisThe company, backed by , hit an all-time monthly high in November 2025 and achieved its first annual profit last year.
geelyZeekr’s premium EV brand also recorded a new high with monthly sales of 31,787 units, an increase of 131.6% from the previous year.
Chinese technology giant xiaomi recorded more than 30,000 EV deliveries in April, an increase of more than 7.1% compared to the same period last year. The company also reportedly received more than 70,000 pre-orders for the upgraded SU7 sedan.
Nioh In April, 29,356 EVs were delivered, an increase of 22.8% compared to the same period last year. This figure includes sales of the company’s lower-priced brands, Onvo and Firefly.
Delivery from launch to April lee auto The number of units remained unchanged at 34,085 units, an increase of 0.4% from the same period last year.
Following the release of the new SUV “GX” in the middle of this month, Spen With the exception of BYD, which was the only automaker to report a year-over-year sales decline, sales decreased year-over-year, with deliveries of 31,011 vehicles, an 11.5% year-over-year decline.
Expanding overseas
BYD is strengthening its presence overseas, with plans to export more than 1 million units by 2026.
Consultancy Latam Mobility estimates that the company will account for at least 70% of EV sales in Mexico and 75% of EV sales in Argentina in 2025.
According to statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), new registrations of BYD’s passenger EVs in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and UK increased by more than 155% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026.
According to a Bloomberg report, BYD was reportedly aiming to join ACEA (European auto lobby group) in April to gain influence in Europe, citing an ACEA spokesperson. CNBC has reached out to ACEA for comment.
BYD established itself through large-scale in-house production, but also established manufacturing facilities in Brazil and Hungary. But the company’s overseas factories have been marred by labor abuse controversy.
Other Chinese EV companies are also seeking profits in overseas markets. Leap Motor aims to expand overseas through a joint venture with automotive conglomerate Stellantis, with the aim of having more than 800 sales and service locations across Europe and at least 30 in Latin America by the end of 2025.
Leap Motor does not disclose monthly export numbers, but the company announced in February that it is targeting exports of 100,000 to 150,000 units.
In April, Beijing-based Lee Auto announced its entry into the Middle East, signing a memorandum of understanding with local distributors to introduce its vehicles to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as revealing plans to expand into Cambodia, Laos, Macau and Myanmar.
