Byd-Stellantis duel over sales figures (and overtaking) in Germany

The Chinese manufacturer Byd, a global leader in electrification, attacked Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa and reaffirmed its ambitions in the German market in a statement. With its 8,610 registrations in the first eight months of 2025, the Shenzhen-based giant (4.27 million battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles delivered in 2024 and 2.49 million units at the end of July 2025, or 45 per cent of the annual target of 5.5 million) claimed to have overtaken its Chinese competitor Leapmotor - 3.536 units in the same period - seemingly contradicting the statement of the ceo of Stellantis, who on Thursday 11 September,at the Kepler Cheuvreux Autumn Conference, had pointed to the Hangzhou-based company as outperforming Byd in Germany. Leapmotor operates in jv with Stellantis in Europe.

But a Stellantis spokesperson, a few hours later, clarified that Filosa's statements 'referred only to the month of August, when Leapmotor was indeed the leading Chinese brand in the country, with the highest number of battery electric vehicle (Bev) registrations and the highest market share. All other assessments cannot be linked to what Antonio Filosa said yesterday'. The CEO's remarks, according to the Stellantis spokesman, were therefore specifically referring to the fact that the Leapmotor brand is currently experiencing a rapid growth phase in Germany, where the T03 was the best-selling Chinese electric car in August. This is confirmed by the video recording of Kepler Chevreux's Autumn Conference, during which Filosa speaks of the result obtained by Leapmotor 'last month' and is pleased with the performance, given that, adds the Italian manager, the Chinese brand partner of Stellantis 'has only been in Germany for a few months, while Byd has been operating for several years'.

In detail, Byd pointed out that between January and August it sold 5,852 100% electric cars (Bev) and 2,757 plug-in hybrids (Phev), against Leapmotor's 3,088 Bev and 448 Phev. The Chinese manufacturer also points out that it has overtaken Alfa Romeo, with a total of 5,226 registrations (140 Bev and 34 Phev), and has distanced Jeep in the two electrified segments (350 Bev and 569 Phev). In short, 278 units would be missing for the 'absolute overtaking' on the German market. A symptom - according to the Chinese company - of an acceleration that could be consolidated by the end of the year.

Filosa, speaking at the London conference, also highlighted Stellantis's investment (1.5 billion for 21%, two years ago) in Leapmotor - the joint venture Leapmotor International is 51% owned - emphasising that 'it has gone from being a 5,000-car-per-month start-up in China to a 50,000-car-per-month reality, with a target of over 600,000 units this year'. The partnership involves sharing supplies and technology, with the aim of strengthening the Franco-Italian group's presence in the electric car market.

The comparison between the two manufacturers is part of a rapidly changing competitive environment. Growth in global sales of battery-powered and plug-in hybrid cars slowed to 15% year-on-year in August - the lowest since January - according to Rho Motion. Worldwide, 1.7 million electrified vehicles were registered: 1.1 million in China, where the increase slowed to 6% after months above 30%, 283 thousand in Europe (+48%) and just over 200 thousand in North America (+13%).