BYD receives Manufacturer of the Year prize at the AM Awards
- BYD named Manufacturer of the Year at the 2026 AM Awards in recognition of its success in the UK market
- Judges praised BYD’s strong product line-up, responsiveness to consumer and retailer feedback, and ability to adapt to changing market and legislative demands
- Award follows BYD becoming the UK’s best-selling pure electric car brand in 2026 so far
15 May 2026 BYD, the leading manufacturer globally of New Energy Vehicles, received significant recognition for its achievements in the UK market by being named Manufacturer of the Year at the 2026 AM Awards.
The annual prize-giving evening, held this year at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in London, saw the AM Awards judges covering key areas of the UK automotive landscape, acknowledging outstanding contributions across the industry, from individuals driving change to high-performing teams and standout businesses.
The Manufacturer of the Year title was awarded in recognition of BYD’s wide-ranging success. Looking beyond just sales performance and retailer morale, key considerations for the judges included BYD's sensitivity to the voice of the consumer and an ability to react to both legislative changes and dealer feedback when it comes to product planning.
Furthermore, the AM Awards panel believed that BYD’s product range hit the mark for customers in terms of practicality, cost, style and environmental performance, and acknowledged that the brand is making a statement of intent on the development of new models and supporting technologies.
“It’s such a privilege to be named Manufacturer of the Year by the judges at AM Awards, and I want to say a massive thank you to the whole BYD retailer network and UK team for making this possible” said Steve Beattie, Deputy Country Manager for BYD UK, upon receiving the award. “It's been three years since BYD started selling cars in the UK, but a huge amount of hard work has brought us to the point where we’re not only the country’s most popular New Energy Vehicle manufacturer, but also the biggest seller of pure electric cars in 2026 so far. But we don’t plan to rest on our laurels: the next 12 months will see our range grow with the release of more new cars, that’ll be even more accessible through an expanded retailer network.”
Tim Rose, AM Editor, said: “BYD has rapidly established itself as a major force within the UK automotive market, bringing a fresh, confident approach to electrification that is resonating strongly with both consumers and retailers. The Chinese brand’s expansion has been defined by clear strategic intent, competitive product offerings and a growing presence that is already making a tangible impact on the UK’s new car market. BYD’s product line-up is also particularly well aligned with UK market demands. Offering a range of well-specified, competitively priced vehicles across key segments, it enables its dealers to appeal to a broad and diverse customer base. AM’s dealer readers are excited about the prospects of BYD. It is certainly one to watch!”
As of April 2026, BYD sold 26,396 units of plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles, resulting in a 9.5% market share. BYD will soon launch the ATTO 2 DM-i in the UK, with other models due to launch later in the year. In addition, DENZA, BYD Group’s premium brand, arrives in the summer.
