BYD celebrates production of the 15 millionth New Energy Vehicle
- Ceremony marks latest production achievement in factory in Jinan, China
- N8L SUV from Europe-bound DENZA brand is the milestone model
- Jump from 10 million to 15 million NEVs achieved in just 13 months
18 December 2025 BYD, the world's leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles, is celebrating production of its 15 millionth NEV, making another significant step in the push towards sustainable mobility.
New Energy Vehicles encompass both pure-electric BEVs and electrified models featuring breakthrough Super Hybrid with DM technology, and introducing as many consumers as possible to the performance, efficiency and ownership benefits of these powertrains is a core component of BYD's overall goal of cooling the earth by one degree.
Employees marked the latest achievement with a ceremony at BYD's Jinan factory in China, which commenced mass manufacturing three years ago. The 15 millionth NEV to leave a BYD production line was the 15,000th example of the N8L, a large six-seat SUV from BYD's premium technology-led brand DENZA. It utilises the same Super Hybrid and e3 ('e-cube') platform as the Z9GT, the stunning shooting brake that will lead DENZA's introduction to Europe in 2026.
BYD made its first New Energy Vehicle, the F3DM, as the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid in 2008. It took 13 years to manufacture the first million NEVs, but BYD's expansion and the popularity of its products with consumers have allowed the jump from 10 million to 15 million to be achieved in just 13 months. The 14 millionth NEV rolled off the line as recently as 9 October 2025.
The latest achievement completes an impressive year of growth by BYD, with total production for the first 11 months of 2025 totalling 4.182 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 11.3%. Overseas sales in the same period reached 917,000 units, surpassing the total achieved in the whole of 2024, and BYD's global footprint now spans more than 110 countries and regions.
As a technology company, BYD continues to invest heavily in research and development. In the first three quarters of 2025 BYD invested RMB 43.75 billion (5.3 billion euros) in R&D, up 31% year on year, bringing the total cumulative investment in R&D to more than RMB 220 billion (26.65 billion euros). This steadfast commitment has produced innovations in everything from battery chemistry and packaging to intelligent driving assistance and megawatt Flash Charging, which makes recharging as fast as refuelling and is also destined for introduction in Europe in 2026.
BYD is now on sale in 33 countries in Europe, across 1000 points of sale. Plans are already in place to double the number of dealerships by the end of 2026.
About BYD
BYD is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1994 as a rechargeable battery maker, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics, with over 30 industrial parks in China, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, and India. From power acquisition and storage to its applications, BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. Its new energy vehicle footprint now covers six continents, over 100 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. Listed in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges, the company is known to be a Fortune Global 500 enterprise that furnishes innovations in pursuit of a greener world. For more information, please visit www.bydglobal.com.
About BYD Auto
Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of BYD, a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Aiming to accelerate the green transition of the global transportation sector, BYD Auto focuses on developing pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company has mastered the core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, such as batteries, electric motors, electronic controllers, and automotive-grade semiconductors. It has witnessed in recent years significant technological advancements, including the Blade Battery, the DM-i and DM-p hybrid technology, the e-Platform 3.0, the CTB and iTAC technologies, the DiSus Intelligent Body Control System, the XUANJI Architecture, and the Super e-Platform. The company is the world’s first carmaker to stop the production of fossil-fueled vehicles on EV shift and has remained top of new energy passenger vehicle sales in China for 12 years in a row.
About BYD Europe
BYD Europe is headquartered in the Netherlands and is the first overseas branch of BYD Group, with a commitment to evolving the international brand BYD Auto to deliver safe and efficient sustainable solutions in new energy vehicles through world-leading technological innovations.
For more information, please visit www.byd.com.
Contacts:
Mike Gale
Head of PR, BYD UK
E: michael.gale@byd.com
M: +44 7908 905678
Rachel Goodwin
PR Manager, BYD UK
E: rachel.goodwin@byd.com
M: +44 7399 678373
Alex Ingram
Press Officer, BYD UK
E: alex.ingram@byd.com
M: +44 7539 534571