BYD Logs Strong Growth In Sales In Europe

 

Comparison of quality of BYD cars with VW cars

BYD offers strong value, modern tech, impressive EV performance, and solid safety (often 5-star Euro NCAP), challenging VW's established reputation for build quality and traditional driving refinement; VW generally leads in ride sophistication and interior polish, but BYD's rapid quality improvements, competitive features, longer warranties, and lower cost make it a strong contender, especially for tech-focused buyers, though VW owners sometimes report lower satisfaction.

Volkswagen's Strengths (Legacy & Refinement):

 

    Build & Driving Dynamics: Known for solid build quality, composed handling, and sophisticated, comfortable rides, especially in models like the Tayron or ID.7.

    Brand & History: Strong global reputation and brand recognition built over decades, often appealing to those valuing tradition.

    Interior Polish: Generally offers a premium feel with well-integrated screens and physical controls, though minimalist trends exist.

 

BYD's Strengths (Value & EV Tech):

 

    Value & Features: Excellent features-for-money, often undercutting traditional rivals with stylish designs and high-tech interiors.

 

    EV Technology: A leader in EV tech, offering rapid acceleration and innovative battery solutions (like Blade Battery).

 

    Safety: Achieves 5-star Euro NCAP ratings and includes advanced driver aids, though some systems can be sensitive.

    Warranties: Often provides generous warranties for peace of mind.

 

Key Differences in Quality Perception:

 

    Ride: VW often feels more settled; BYD can sometimes be firmer or "floaty" but offers playful agility in models like the Seal.

    Interior: VW leans towards classic refinement; BYD offers modern, tech-forward interiors, sometimes with softer materials but can feel less polished than top VWs.

    Reliability: BYD's rapid growth means long-term ownership quality is still emerging, while VW has a long track record, though some recent surveys show lower owner satisfaction.

 

Who Should Buy Which?

 

    Choose BYD if: You're an EV enthusiast prioritizing cutting-edge tech, strong performance, great value, and a generous warranty.

    Choose VW if: You value a proven brand, traditional driving refinement, established build quality, and a more conservative design.

 

BYD's car prices in the EU are substantially lower than Volkswagen's, primarily driven by their strategy to dominate the affordable EV market segment with models like the Dolphin Surf. Volkswagen's prices reflect its established brand position and broader product mix, generally targeting higher price brackets. BYD quality shows up in growth of sales:

 

„Chinese auto giant BYD posted a more than threefold jump in European sales last month, continuing to outpace domestic and foreign rivals.

 

New-car registrations for BYD models, a reflection of sales, surged to 16,158 units in November from 4,821 a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, an industry body also known as ACEA. When including the U.K., Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, sales more than tripled to 21,133 vehicles.

 

ACEA began including BYD in its July data, showing a steady rise of European sales growth for the Chinese group ever since. BYD has been outpacing both domestic carmakers like Volkswagen and U.S. rivals such as Elon Musk's Tesla in the continent in terms of monthly sales growth, but not when it comes to the total number of vehicles sold.

 

BYD sold 159,869 vehicles in Europe between January and November, compared with Volkswagen's 3,263,542 and Tesla's 203,382, according to ACEA data.

 

Still, BYD's growth rate of 276%, far better than Volkswagen's 4.6% growth and Tesla's 28% slump, shows that drivers in the continent are increasingly embracing its lineup of electric and hybrid vehicles.

 

Tesla registrations in the EU fell more than 34% on year in November alone to 12,130 units. When including the U.K., Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, sales fell nearly 12% to 22,801. Tesla has had several months of disappointing sales in Europe.

 

The EV market in the EU improved in November, according to ACEA data. Sales of battery-electric vehicles grew 44% on year. Registrations of hybrid-electric cars increased 4.2%, while plug-in-hybrid models grew more than 38%.

 

ACEA said EU passenger-car registrations increased 2.1% in November to 887,491 vehicles.“ [1]

 

1. BYD Logs Strong Growth In Sales In Europe. Orru, Mauro.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 24 Dec 2025: B3.