BYD posts best month of sales yet in 2025 as Chinese EV makers shine in April

HONG KONG - BYD posted its best month of sales yet for 2025, a further sign the Chinese carmaking juggernaut is on track to hit its full-year target of 5.5 million deliveries.

New-energy vehicle sales for April were 380,089 units, up more than 20 per cent year on year, according to a statement on May 1. Of those, 372,615 were passenger cars.

Notably, BYD’s battery passenger electric vehicle sales of 195,740 in April topped its plug-in hybrid sales of 176,875, the first time pure EV sales have been in front since early 2024.

BYD is waiting to unleash a suite of new vehicles stacked with smart-driving capabilities and also ultra-fast charging technology. The upgrades are designed to bolster the automaker’s sales especially around pure EVs, which have lagged against BYD’s hybrid range after that line-up received a major update last year.

At China’s premium auto exhibition in Shanghai last week, BYD showcased a pipeline of concept autos in the high-end space, with a range of new luxury sport utility vehicles and sport cars.

BYD, whose shares in Hong Kong are up almost 40 per cent this year, has managed to shrug off the risk of tariffs, given it does not sell passenger cars in the US market.

Other Chinese EV makers also had a good month, with many posting April monthly sales figures just shy of absolute records.

Xpeng delivered 35,045 units, up 273 per cent year on year, and its second-best month ever. Li Auto sales rose 32 per cent to nearly 34,000 units. Nio also saw a pop in sales to 23,900 units, also its second best-ever result.

Xiaomi’s April sales, however, dipped 3.4 per cent from March to more than 28,000 vehicles. The lower number, however, more likely reflects the company’s production capacity rather than demand being impacted by a fatal accident involving its marquee SU7 electric sedan in which three people were killed in late March.

Xiaomi continues to see a healthy amount of orders, so much so that people need to wait for the Basic and Pro versions for around 45 weeks now, the Securities Times reported, citing a salesman at its Beijing factory.

Geely Automotive Holdings, meanwhile, saw its sales volumes jump 53 per cent to 234,112 in April, although its premium EV brand Zeekr witnessed a slip of 15 per cent year on year. Zeekr, which offers sporty EVs that prioritise performance, is facing competition from the likes of Xiaomi and others also getting in on the product segment. BLOOMBERG