BYD sets new sales record in Australia

BYD Australia and local distributor EVDirect delivered more than 1900 vehicles in May, toppling their previous monthly sales record by nearly 20 per cent.

With 1914 units registered in May across the Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal electric vehicle (EV) nameplates, BYD sales were up 32.2 per cent relative to May 2023 – and are 67.3 per cent up year-to-date as of May 31.

The Chinese brand hasn’t commenced deliveries of the Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV, which despite launching last month won’t start hitting customer driveways in June.

The new SUV will be a key cog in the brand’s plan to achieve 100 per cent volume growth in 2024, with EVDirect managing director and executive chairman Luke Todd telling media last month the Sealion 6 has a lot of potential as a proper entry into Australia’s most popular vehicle segment.

Of the 1914 BYD deliveries in May, 737 units were Atto 3 SUVs, 175 units were Dolphin hatches, and a healthy 1002 units were Seal sedans. The result is 36 per cent up on April 2024, and 18 per cent up on its record March result from earlier this year (1622 units).

In addition to the commencement of Sealion 6 deliveries this month, BYD and EVDirect have confirmed the release of an updated MY24 Atto 3 for sometime later this year, and the launch of the all-new BYD Shark plug-in hybrid ute.

Yet another record for Australia was set in May 2024, with 111,099 new vehicles registered in Australia. Compared to the same month in 2023 the industry was up 5.1 per cent, and year to date the industry is 12.2 per cent up on 2023.

Strong growth from hybrid (up 113.4 per cent), plug-in hybrid (up 73.6 per cent), and electric sales (up 10.5 per cent) are no doubt leading the charge – with electrified vehicles alone accounting for 23.9 per cent of overall sales.

Did you take delivery of a new BYD in May? Share your thoughts in the comments!

MORE: Everything BYD