8:17 am, October 30, 2026
BYD’s rapid international expansion has helped the Chinese car giant return to profit growth, with its increasingly successful UK operation playing a part in its overseas sales boom.
The manufacturer reported a 28% rise in third-quarter net profits to 10.02bn yuan (£1.1bn), despite continuing to face falling demand and fierce competition in its home market.
Revenue for the three months to September 30 increased 13.6% to 221.49bn yuan (£24.8bn), ending four consecutive quarters of declining revenue.
The results come as BYD continues to establish itself as a major force in Britain’s new car market, with its growing dealer network benefiting from soaring registrations.
The manufacturer registered 20,140 cars in September, an increase of 80% compared with the same month last year, giving it a 5.76% market share.
That was enough to make BYD Britain’s second-biggest car manufacturer by registrations during the month, just three years after it first launched in the country.
Its UK dealer network has already grown to 147 sites, while the range continues to expand with new electric and plug-in hybrid models.
The Seal U DM-i remains the manufacturer’s best-selling model in Britain, with the Atto 2 and Sealion 7 also contributing to its growth.
BYD has also been competing aggressively on finance, with 0% APR deals available on selected models as it looks to attract customers from more established manufacturers.
Globally, BYD sold more than 1.3m vehicles during the third quarter, up almost 19% year-on-year.
Overseas sales more than doubled to 550,704 vehicles, accounting for approximately 42% of total deliveries during the period.
The expansion is becoming increasingly important as the manufacturer battles declining demand in China, where domestic brands including Geely and Leapmotor are intensifying competition.
However, while BYD’s latest quarterly profits represent a recovery, its performance across the first nine months of 2026 paints a different picture.
Net profit between January and September fell 4.2% to 22.34bn yuan (£2.5bn), while revenue was virtually unchanged at 566.3bn yuan (£63.4bn).
The company also reported a substantial increase in inventories as it continues to expand internationally.
Stock levels rose 60% from the end of 2025 to 221.58bn yuan (£24.8bn), with BYD attributing the increase partly to growth in its overseas car business.
The manufacturer also recorded 2.71bn yuan (£304m) in asset impairment losses during the first nine months, an increase of almost 68%, partly linked to the growing scale of its inventories.
Trade receivables increased 53% to 56.47bn yuan (£6.3bn), which the company also attributed primarily to overseas growth.
The figures highlight the scale of BYD’s investment in expanding beyond China, with international markets becoming increasingly important to its future performance.