BYD Refutes Production Cut Allegations, Citing Sustained Sales Growth







Recent reports circulating in the media suggested that BYD, a prominent electric vehicle manufacturer, had begun scaling back its EV production in China due to a perceived dip in sales. However, the company has unequivocally refuted these claims, maintaining that its manufacturing output remains consistent and its sales continue to exhibit robust growth. This assertion comes amidst a backdrop of strong performance metrics, including a record-breaking sales month in May and significant year-on-year increases in New Energy Vehicle (NEV) deliveries.
In May, BYD achieved its highest sales volume of 2025, distributing nearly 382,476 NEVs globally. This category encompasses both fully electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Over the initial five months of the year, the company’s total NEV sales experienced a remarkable 39% surge, reaching over 1.76 million units worldwide. Notably, passenger vehicle sales alone, excluding commercial vehicles, also climbed by 37% during the same period, totaling more than 1.73 million units. The growth in battery-electric vehicles has been particularly strong, with a 40% increase compared to the previous year’s corresponding period.
Despite these impressive figures, certain sources, including Reuters, alleged that BYD had reduced operations at several of its Chinese facilities and postponed plans for production line expansion. These reports cited unnamed individuals who claimed night shifts were curtailed and plant capacities were lowered by at least a third, ostensibly due to increasing inventory. One source even indicated that four BYD plants were operating at a reduced pace. Conversely, a source close to BYD, speaking to CnEVPost, dismissed these allegations as unfounded, confirming that production stability and sales growth persist, with dealer inventory levels deemed reasonable. This denial follows BYD's aggressive pricing strategy in May, where it substantially reduced prices on 22 vehicle models by up to 34%.
BYD maintains an ambitious sales target of approximately 5.5 million vehicles for the current year, which would represent a nearly 30% increase from the previous year’s figures. While the annual growth rate has seen a deceleration from 218% in 2021 to 62% in 2023, the company's market share in China has continued to expand, rising from 15% to 17% in recent months. Furthermore, BYD is strategically focusing on international markets to sustain its growth momentum. The company has reported six consecutive months of record overseas sales, with over 89,000 NEVs sold outside of China in May. Its expansion into Europe is particularly notable, with the launch of the affordable Dolphin Surf model, which is expected to significantly boost sales in the region. Analysts project that BYD's European sales could double this year and potentially reach 400,000 units by 2029, supported by new production facilities in Hungary and Turkey. This global outreach underscores BYD's determination to maintain its leadership position in the electric vehicle industry, regardless of localized production rumors.
The company's proactive stance on global market penetration, coupled with its consistent sales performance, provides a compelling narrative that challenges the recent speculation regarding production cuts. BYD's strategic maneuvers, including competitive pricing and aggressive international expansion, are designed to consolidate its market leadership and ensure continued growth in the dynamic electric vehicle landscape.