BYD sold 557,090 fully electric vehicles in the second quarter of 2026. The Chinese automaker reclaimed the top spot in global EV sales from Tesla, which delivered 480,126 vehicles in the same period. BYD's lead over its U.S. rival totaled approximately 77,000 vehicles for the quarter. This shift follows the first quarter of 2026, when BYD trailed Tesla.
Surging overseas shipments drove the company's return to the top position. International deliveries accounted for 42.5% of total sales in the first half of 2026. This represents a significant increase from 20% in 2025. Overseas deliveries grew 82.5% year-over-year during the first half of the year. Total quarterly volume declined 8.2% year-over-year despite the international gains. BYD is prioritizing foreign markets to counter slowing demand and intense price competition in China.