BYD Sales Nearly Double in Japan in March 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - BYD’s sales nearly doubled in Japan in March 2026 as the world’s largest producer of new energy vehicles (NEVs) bets on overseas sales amid fierce domestic competition.
BYD previously set a target to sell 10,000 electric vehicles per year in Japan after deliveries reached 3,731 units in 2025.
According to the latest imported car registration data reported by the Japan Automobile Importers Association (JAIA), cited by Carnewschina on Thursday (16/4) local time, BYD recorded 625 vehicles in Japan in March 2026, up 91.1% year-on-year.
The Chinese brand delivered 327 new energy vehicles in March 2025, based on last year’s data. The brand’s deliveries in Japan in the first quarter of 2026 reached 1,142 cars (BEV + PHEV), showing an increase of more than 100%.
Although its growth appears significant, partly due to a low base effect, BYD remains a small player in the Japanese car market. It should be noted that 407,564 cars were sold in Japan in March 2026, with the new energy vehicle market share reaching 4.15%.
A total of 16,924 battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were sold in Japan last month, with BYD holding only 3.7% market share. It should be noted that BYD also faces challenges from recent adjustments to Japan’s NEV subsidy policy.
The subsidy per vehicle has dropped sharply from 350,000–400,000 yen (Rp37.7 million–Rp43.15 million) to 150,000 yen (Rp16.18 million). This makes it increasingly difficult for the Shenzhen-based carmaker to boost sales in Japan.
The statistics are more optimistic when looking at registrations of imported new energy vehicles in Japan provided by JAIA. A total of 6,085 imported BEVs and PHEVs were registered in Japan in March 2026. In this context, BYD’s market share increased to 10.3%, however, the Chinese NEV producer still has much room to grow as it targets annual sales of 10,000 vehicles in this market, despite facing various difficulties.
Exports have become a top priority for BYD as the company faces domestic competition and the gradual phasing out of subsidies in China.
BYD sold 688,939 cars globally; interestingly, its domestic deliveries reached 303,150 units. This means overseas sales contribute more than 50% of the brand’s total sales.
In comparison, BYD sold 990,711 cars globally in the first quarter of 2025 with 643,024 units delivered to customers in China. This is why every overseas market is very important for BYD.
As a reminder, BYD currently sells five models in Japan. The lineup includes four electric cars (Sealion 7, Atto 3, Dolphin, and Seal), as well as one PHEV model Sealion 6. This summer, BYD hopes to strengthen its performance in the Japanese market by launching the electric city car Racco. The car is expected to be priced at around 2.5 million yen (Rp269.6 million).