BYD is the UK’s fastest growing car brand
Chinese newcomer BYD was the fastest growing car brand in the UK last year.
The firm behind the Seal, Dolphin and Atto 3 EVs saw a 658% increase in passenger car sales in 2024 compared with 2023.
It sold a total of 8,700 vehicles in 2024, with the Atto 3 – the first model it launched in the UK – proving to be its best seller for the second year. As with many EVs, that Atto 3’s sales were supported by fleet orders, while smaller, cheaper Dolphin hatchback proved to be its most popular model among private retail buyers.
The brand has seen significant growth since arriving in the UK in 2023. It expanded from 14 retail sites at the start of 2024 to 60 at the end of the year, with plans for further growth this year.
Steve Beattie, sales and marketing director for BYD UK said: “In the past two years, BYD has gone from strength to strength and I’m immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of our team and retailers. BYD aims to bring high-tech and high-value cars to UK customers, and it’s fantastic to see more people choosing BYD.”
The market-leading growth allowed the brand to take its market share from 0.17% in January 2024 to 0.96% in December. BYD also reported a major increase in public brand awareness, from 1% to 31%, an improvement it credited to its headline sponsorship of the Euro 2024 football tournament.
The brand expanded its model line-up in 2024 with the addition of the plug-in hybrid Seal U DMi to sit alongside its three all-electric models. In the coming months it will also launch the Sealion 7 – an all-electric ‘performance’ SUV capable of going from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.