Sunita Somvanshi
The way British drivers buy cars is changing. Chinese automaker BYD sold over 8,700 electric vehicles in the UK during 2024, a 658% increase that shows more people are switching to electric cars.
What does this mean for car buyers? BYD has grown from having just 14 showrooms to 60 locations across the UK, making it easier for people to test drive and buy their cars. When someone walks into a showroom today, they’ll find more choices than a year ago – BYD now offers several models, from family-sized SUVs to smaller city cars.
The ATTO 3, a family-sized SUV, leads BYD’s sales. The smaller BYD Dolphin has become popular with people looking for a city-friendly car. Both models are part of BYD’s strategy to offer electric cars at different price points, giving buyers more options when considering the switch from petrol to electric.
“BYD aims to bring high-tech and high-value cars to UK customers,” explains Steve Beattie, Sales and Marketing Director at BYD UK. This focus on value matters because electric cars have traditionally been seen as expensive.
The company’s impact goes beyond personal cars. Since 2014, BYD has put over 2,000 electric buses on UK roads, changing how people travel in major cities. They’ve also helped power homes and businesses by providing 1.8GWh of battery storage to the national grid since 2016.
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More people now recognize BYD – brand awareness jumped from 1% to 31% in just one year. This increase came partly through sponsoring the UEFA EURO 2024 football tournament, which helped make BYD a familiar name in British households.
Looking at sales numbers, BYD’s share of the UK car market grew from 0.17% to 0.96% during 2024. While these percentages might seem small, they represent thousands of drivers choosing electric vehicles for their daily commutes, school runs, and shopping trips.
The broader picture shows BYD sold over 4.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2024, up 41.3% from the previous year. In December 2024 alone, 57,154 people outside China chose BYD vehicles, showing growing trust in electric cars globally.
However, challenges exist. Trade disputes and tariffs could affect prices and availability. Despite these hurdles, BYD plans to open more showrooms in 2025, potentially making electric cars accessible to more communities across the UK.
For everyday drivers, BYD’s growth means more competition in the electric car market. More competition typically leads to better prices and more choices – good news for anyone thinking about switching to an electric vehicle in the coming years
