NANJING, CHINA – APRIL 30, 2026 – Tourists visit the BYD showroom at the Auto Expo in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China on April 30, 2026. (Photo credit should read CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
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BYDPassenger car sales fell for the eighth consecutive month in April, while domestic rivals Leapmotor and Zeekr missed monthly deliveries as the market became more competitive.
BYD reported Sunday that it delivered 314,100 new electric vehicles last month — including electric hybrid and plug-in models — down 15.7% from a year earlier but up 6.2% from March, CNBC records show.
BYD’s export figures rose to 135,098, according to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange – a record, and increased by more than 70% compared to the same period in 2025, according to CNBC statistics. The diversification of the domestic and overseas fortunes of the Shenzhen-based carmaker underscores its growing reliance on overseas markets amid growing competition at home.
In April, the market-leading EV giant reported a nearly 55.4% year-on-year profit drop in the first quarter as operating income fell 11.8% to 150 billion yuan ($22 billion) amid strong showings from its domestic rivals in the same quarter.
The second-ranked Chinese EV maker The Leapmotor posted its highest monthly delivery total in April, with 71,387 units, up 73.9% over the same period in 2025. Stellantis-the company-backed company hit a record high last month in November 2025 and turned its first annual profit last year.
GeelyZeekr’s premium EV brand also achieved a new high in monthly sales with 31,787 units, representing a year-on-year increase of 131.6%.
A Chinese tech giant Xiaomi posted more than 30,000 EV deliveries in April, an increase of more than 7.1% from the same period last year. The company has reportedly received more than 70,000 orders for its upgraded SU7 sedan.
Nio launched 29,356 EVs in April, up 22.8% from the same period last year. This figure includes sales from its low-cost brands Onvo and Firefly.
April delivery from scratch Li Auto held firm at 34,085 units, up 0.4% from the same period last year.
Following the launch of the GX SUV in mid-month, Xpeng posted a year-over-year sales decline – apart from BYD, the only other automaker to report a year-over-year sales decline – with 31,011 deliveries, a fall of 11.5% from the previous year.
Overseas countries
With plans to export more than one million units by 2026, BYD has strengthened itself abroad.
The company has covered at least 70% of EV sales in Mexico and 75% of Argentina’s EV sales by 2025, according to estimates from consultant Latam Mobility.
New registrations of BYD passenger EVs across the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, and the UK increased by more than 155% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to statistics from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
In an effort to gain influence in Europe, BYD in April reportedly sought admission to ACEA – the European automotive body – according to a Bloomberg report, citing an ACEA spokesperson. CNBC has reached out to ACEA for comment.
Although BYD established itself with extensive in-house production, it set up production facilities in Brazil and Hungary. However, the carmaker’s overseas plants have been marred by labor abuse disputes.
Some Chinese EV companies are also looking to tap into the overseas market. Leapmotor is looking to expand abroad through its joint venture with automotive conglomerate Stellantis, which has more than 800 sales and service outlets across Europe, and at least 30 in Latin America by the end of 2025.
Although Leapmotor does not publish its monthly export figures, the company announced in February that it aims to export 100,000 to 150,000 units.
In April, Beijing-headquartered Li Auto announced its entry into the Middle East, signing a partnership agreement with local distributors to bring its cars to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while also launching expansion plans in Cambodia, Laos, Macau and Myanmar.
