BYD’s domestic struggles are deepening even as its overseas business roars to life. May sales of 383,453 vehicles marked a scant 0.3% year-on-year increase, breaking an eight-month streak of declines, but the headline masked a stark divide: Chinese deliveries dropped 24% — the 13th consecutive monthly fall — while exports hit a record 160,177 units, surging 80.7%. That international push now accounts for 42% of total volume, with Australia alone delivering 8,211 vehicles, a 154% leap that made BYD the country’s second most popular brand.
Yet the stock remains stuck near its lows, trading at around 10.09 euros in Frankfurt on Thursday, down 0.65% on the session and 78% below the 52-week high of 46.39 euros. The year-to-date loss stands at 7.88%. A block trade of 162,000 shares on the Hong Kong exchange hints at continued institutional interest, but the relative strength index of 41.7 points to a neutral market — neither oversold nor overbought.
To counter the home-market erosion, BYD signed a sweeping framework agreement with oil giant Sinopec on June 3. The partnership taps Sinopec’s network of more than 30,000 fuel stations and 14,000 existing charging and battery-swap sites to build 20,000 ultra-fast charging stations by the end of 2026. The stations will use BYD’s second-generation Blade battery, capable of charging from 10% to 97% in roughly nine minutes — or under 12 minutes even at minus 30 degrees Celsius. The two companies are also cooperating on battery materials and lubricants.
At the same time, BYD is launching its first vehicle engineered from the ground up for overseas markets: the Dolphin G DM-i, a plug-in hybrid supermini aimed squarely at the European B-segment. Commercial sales begin this month, with customer deliveries starting in autumn. The car offers a combined range of over 1,000 kilometres on a full tank and battery, thanks to a DM-i hybrid system paired with LFP battery packs of 7.8 kWh or 18 kWh. Pure-electric range runs between 50 and 80 kilometres — enough for the average European commute. Inside, a floating infotainment screen dominates the minimalist cabin, and the three-spoke steering wheel retains physical buttons, a deliberate nod to local preferences.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying BYD?
Pricing could be the real disruption. Autocar reports a UK starting figure of roughly £20,000 — about £10,000 cheaper than the next most affordable PHEV compact. BYD has not officially confirmed the price, but the final figure is expected in June. If accurate, the Dolphin G DM-i would undercut rivals such as the VW Polo, Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris by a wide margin, filling a void as the only supermini in Europe with a full plug-in hybrid powertrain. Longer term, the model could be built at BYD’s Hungarian plant in Szeged, sidestepping EU punitive tariffs on Chinese imports.
Beyond cars, BYD is diversifying into robotics. Vice-president Li Ke confirmed in early June that the company is developing humanoid robots, leveraging its manufacturing expertise to create an open platform. A BYD-backed startup, PaXini, which makes haptic sensors and robot hands, is reportedly planning a Hong Kong IPO after a March 2026 funding round that valued it at over 10 billion renminbi.
Analysts remain largely bullish despite the stock’s slide. Twenty-six of 27 covering BYD rate it a Buy, citing export growth as the primary catalyst while flagging domestic margin pressure as the key risk. Shareholders will vote on a dividend proposal at the annual meeting on June 9, with the ex-dividend date set for June 11. Whether the combination of a bespoke European PHEV, a charging infrastructure blitz and record export volumes can ultimately lift the stock out of its trough will depend on how quickly the home-market haemorrhage can be stemmed.
Ad
BYD Stock: Buy or Sell?! New BYD Analysis from June 4 delivers the answer:
The latest BYD figures speak for themselves: Urgent action needed for BYD investors. Is it worth buying or should you sell? Find out what to do now in the current free analysis from June 4.
BYD: Buy or sell? Read more here...
