Year after year, BYD confirms that its French strategy is no longer a gamble. In 2025, the Chinese manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs) registered 14,311 vehicles in France, representing growth of 145.3% compared with 2024, in a car market that was nevertheless down by almost 5%. Behind these figures lies a reality: BYD has above all offered a credible hybrid alternative to motorists who are still hesitant.
SEAL U DM-i: the game-changing PHEV
The year 2025 saw the BYD SEAL U DM-i become the brand’s real powerhouse. This Chinese SUV was BYD’s best-selling model in France in 2025, with 6,058 registrations, up 194.5% year-on-year. In December, it even became the best-selling PHEV in France, with 1,797 units, giving BYD a 1.5% market share.
This success can be explained by the positioning of DM-i Super Hybrid technology: a predominantly electric drive for everyday use, coupled with a combustion engine for long journeys, with a combined range of up to 1,505 km. It’s a pragmatic response to fears about range, which are still widespread in France.
A well-established electric range
In addition to the SEAL U DM-i, BYD has a complete and coherent electric range. In 2025, the brand’s podium will reflect this growing power:
- BYD SEAL (electric saloon): 1,835 registrations (+70.4%)
- BYD SEALION 7 (electric SUV): 1,811 units
- BYD DOLPHIN: 1,108 registrations
- BYD DOLPHIN SURF: 1,049 units
The latter, an affordable electric city car, marked the year with its World Urban Car of the Year title, its 5-star Euro NCAP rating and a starting price of €19,990, confirming BYD’s strategy of making electromobility accessible without compromising on technology or safety.
2025: a pivotal year for BYD France
Last year also saw the arrival of a number of ground-breaking new models from the Chinese brand. The ATTO 2, an urban SUV with city-friendly dimensions, available in electric and DM Super Hybrid versions, the SEAL 6 DM-i and SEAL 6 DM-i Touring, saloon and estate cars with a range of up to 1,505 km, and the SEALION 5 DM-i, a family SUV with a combined range of 1,016 km, all saw the light of day in 2025.
At the same time, BYD is continuing to expand its network, reaching almost 90 sales outlets by the end of 2025, with a clear target of 200 dealerships by 2026.
2026: Upmarket and technological acceleration
And the year ahead will see BYD do even more. In 2026, the premium DENZA brand will be launched in France, spearheaded by the Z9GT, developed specifically for the European market. Added to this is the roll-out of the Flash Charging network, capable of reaching 1,000 kW and recovering up to 400 km of range in 5 minutes.
« In just one year, we have almost trebled our sales in France and recorded almost 4,000 orders in December alone, » points out Dorothée Bonassies, Managing Director of BYD France. « A solid base from which to continue our development.
Hybrids as a gateway to electric vehicles
As the first carmaker in the world to abandon pure combustion engines, BYD is capitalising on its Blade batteries, e-Platform 3.0 and DM-i technologies to establish itself in a French market that is still in transition. By 2025, the brand has demonstrated that plug-in hybrids can accelerate electromobility.
