BYD Achieves Landmark Production Milestone in Electric Vehicle Race

The Chinese automotive giant BYD has reached a significant manufacturing landmark, solidifying its position in the global electric vehicle sector. The company recently produced its 15 millionth New Energy Vehicle (NEV), a cumulative total that now surpasses the combined electric output of both Tesla and Volkswagen. This achievement highlights the remarkable scale and speed of BYD's industrial expansion.

On December 18, the milestone vehicle—a Denza N8L, a six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV—rolled off the production line at the Jinan facility. This moment caps 17 years of dedicated development in electrified transportation. The pace of production has notably accelerated in recent times. BYD hit the 10 million NEV mark near the end of 2024. Merely eight months later, by mid-2025, the tally had climbed to 13 million. The latest 2 million vehicles were manufactured in just about four months, demonstrating a formidable and rapidly scaling production capacity.

Establishing a Substantial Lead Over Key Rivals

When examining cumulative production figures, BYD's lead is pronounced. Current data places the company far ahead of its closest international competitors in the electrified vehicle segment.
* BYD has manufactured 15 million NEVs, encompassing both battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
* Tesla has produced approximately 8.1 million BEVs.
* The Volkswagen Group has delivered under 3 million electrified vehicles, combining BEVs and PHEVs.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying BYD?

These numbers indicate that BYD's output is nearly double that of Tesla and exceeds Volkswagen's electrified production by a factor of more than five. By volume, the Chinese firm is the clear global leader in NEV manufacturing.

Share Performance Amid a Challenging Market

Shares of BYD (1211.HK), listed in Hong Kong, have recently traded within a range of roughly HKD 97 to HKD 101. The announcement of the production record provided a slight uplift to the share price. However, the stock has experienced considerable volatility throughout 2025. A primary driver has been regulatory intervention in China, where authorities aim to curb an intense price war in the domestic EV market. These government measures are impacting the entire sector's margin outlook and, consequently, influencing equity valuations.

While this new production milestone undoubtedly strengthens BYD's competitive standing on the world stage, the company continues to navigate a demanding landscape characterized by fierce rivalry and regulatory pressure on pricing.