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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Chan Ho-Him

China's BYD sees first profit drop since 2021, even as the Tesla-rival takes global EV crown

China BYD - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Chinese automaker BYD said Friday its annual sales rose to a record $116 billion, outpacing Tesla’s, but its profit fell for the first time since 2021 under pressure from cutthroat competition.

BYD, the largest electric vehicle maker, has been expanding into global markets including Latin America and Europe, where auto analysts say profit margins are typically higher than in China. It’s also banking on cutting-edge technology upgrades to grow appeal, announcing a new powerful fast-charging battery days ahead of its earnings report.

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