Byd, global production slowed in July. But growing in Italy
Sales grew by 0.6%, far from the +12% recorded in June. The Shenzhen giant last recorded a reduction in production in February 2024
2' min read
2' min read
After an unstoppable 16-month run, the Chinese giant BYD is also forced to slow down. In July, global production of electric cars and plug-in hybrids stopped at 317,892 units, down 0.9% compared to the same month in 2024. A significant sign: it is the first drop in over a year for the world leader in e-mobility. Sales grew by 0.6%, far from the +12% recorded in June. The Shenzhen giant last recorded a drop in production in February 2024, in line with an industry-wide decline due to the Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell in February compared to January of the previous year. Sales had also contracted in February 2024.
Is the 2025 target moving away?
The slowdown comes at a delicate time. The Chinese market is going through a phase of adjustment, helped by the summer seasonality and the authorities' increasing crackdown on aggressive discounting that has fuelled a price war. In this context, even a giant like BYD has begun to slow down its expansion: fewer production shifts, postponements on new lines and the possibility that an ambitious target - 5.5 million vehicles sold by the end of the year - is in danger of slipping away. So far, deliveries have reached 2.49 million: to hit the target, more than 600 thousand registrations per month would be needed, against a historical record of 515 thousand.
Yet, in the rough sea of Chinese competition - where Geely, Xpeng and Leapmotor set new records while others, such as Li Auto and Nio, lag behind - BYD finds a safer harbour in Europe. And particularly in Italy.
Growth in Italy: Entry in the Top 20
In Italy, the Chinese brand crossed a symbolic but important milestone: in July it entered the top 20 best-selling car brands for the first time, overtaking historical names such as Alfa Romeo. There were 2,268 registrations, of which 1,967 were cars and the rest commercial vehicles, for a market share of 1.7%. Looking at the cumulative figure since January, BYD has already exceeded 13,000 units sold in Italy, with a share of 1.2% and triple-digit percentage growth over the same period in 2024.
Performance in full electric models also shone. In July, 559 100% electric BYDs were registered, representing a 10% share of the segment. Since the beginning of the year, this comes to 3,112 units, or 6.1% of the Italian BEV market.
