BYD is broke

BYD cars grow in popularity as Singapore consumers shed perception of 'made-in-China' as second-best​

In 2020, BYD sold three cars in Singapore. Last year, it sold 6,191.
BYD cars grow in popularity as Singapore consumers shed perception of 'made-in-China' as second-best'made-in-China' as second-best

BYD's Seal 06 DM-i vehicle is displayed at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, or Auto China 2024, in Beijing, China on Apr 25, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Tingshu Wang)



Listen
9 min
New: You can now listen to articles.
close.svg


Justin Ong Guang-Xi
Justin Ong Guang-Xi
16 May 2025 06:02AM (Updated: 16 May 2025 11:48AM)
BookmarkShare

Read a summary of this article on FAST.


FAST
SINGAPORE: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD has overtaken Toyota as the top-selling car in Singapore — and it’s due to a combination of attractive pricing and increasingly positive brand sentiments towards Chinese technology, said drivers and analysts alike.

Data by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) showed that BYD sold 3,002 cars, or 20 per cent of total vehicle sales in Singapore in the first four months this year.

ADVERTISEMENT

It dethroned Toyota as the most popular car - the Japanese manufacturer sold 2,050 cars in the same period - and far outsold its main EV competitor Tesla, which sold 535 cars.

In 2024, Toyota sold 7,876 cars here, more than BYD’s 6,191.

But it was only in 2020 that BYD sold just three cars in Singapore, according to LTA data. This figure rose to 89 in 2021, 786 in 2022 and 1,416 in 2023.

In contrast, Toyota sales have remained relatively stable - with 7,704 in 2020, 9,633 in 2021, 6,405 in 2022 and 7,248 in 2023.

Tesla’s sales have also increased over the years, but not as quickly as BYD cars. Elon Musk’s firm sold 20 cars in 2020, 924 in 2021, 875 in 2022, 941 in 2023 and 2,384 in 2024.
sinkies are retards when it cums to automobile purchases.
 

China urges Beijing-backed development bank to focus more on Belt and Road Initiative​

PUBLISHED WED, JUN 25 202511:01 PM EDTUPDATED 31 MIN AGO
thumbnail

Evelyn Cheng@IN/EVELYN-CHENG-53B23624@CHENGEVELYN
WATCH LIVE
KEY POINTS
  • Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s speech comes amid a pullback of U.S. support for Western-led institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF.
  • China launched a regional development program called the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.
  • The AIIB provides loans to developing countries, largely for infrastructure projects such as water supply and transportation.
 
More fast chargers coming soon
Petrol station kaput?
 
Not unique to BYD


German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has reported a 7% decrease in deliveries for the first quarter of 2025 (Jan-Mar), with sales of cars and vans totalling 529,200 units compared to 568,400 in the same period last year. The decline was largely driven by weaker demand in key markets such as China and Europe

Porsche slashes outlook as US tariffs, China slump dim prospects

By Christoph Steitz
April 29, 20257:05 PM GMT+8Updated April 29, 2025


Tesla's Q2 Deliveries Slump: Can Brand Resilience and Innovation Turn the Tide?

Henry RiversSaturday, Jun 28, 2025 4:30 pm ET

Volkswagen Cuts 35000 Jobs In Move To Offset Crisis​



9 Jan 2025 — Volkswagen announces a significant restructuring of its German manufacturing operations, including 35,000 job cuts by 2030
 

Attachments

  • 1751301612245.png
    1751301612245.png
    259 bytes · Views: 4
Not unique to BYD


German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has reported a 7% decrease in deliveries for the first quarter of 2025 (Jan-Mar), with sales of cars and vans totalling 529,200 units compared to 568,400 in the same period last year. The decline was largely driven by weaker demand in key markets such as China and Europe

Porsche slashes outlook as US tariffs, China slump dim prospects

By Christoph Steitz
April 29, 20257:05 PM GMT+8Updated April 29, 2025



Tesla's Q2 Deliveries Slump: Can Brand Resilience and Innovation Turn the Tide?

Henry RiversSaturday, Jun 28, 2025 4:30 pm ET


Volkswagen Cuts 35000 Jobs In Move To Offset Crisis


9 Jan 2025 — Volkswagen announces a significant restructuring of its German manufacturing operations, including 35,000 job cuts by 2030
Buying an European luxury car with high depreciation , high maintenance n low reliability....? Who will buy such junk?
 
Byd is lumpar 1 car in singkieland..singkies not scared byd bankrupt?



Toyota Is Still Second To BYD In Singapore Almost 14 Months In A Row - CleanTechnica​

Screen-Shot-2024-11-22-at-11.08.15-AM.png

Last Updated on: 3rd July 2025, 10:12 am

SINGAPORE — Just minutes before I left Singapore from its beautiful Changi International Airport, a former Nissan colleague called to tell me, “I predict over 500 units.” Naturally, this is an educated guess, and I do not claim that this will happen until the reports are actually out, usually after the first week of the month. The call, however, sort of confirms what we had just discussed over lunch — the likelihood that in the consolidated June car sales reports from the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA), BYD will still be leading Toyota in terms of both sales and importation.

From January to May of this year, BYD sold 3,002 vehicles, capturing a significant 20 percent of Singapore’s total car sales. Toyota followed with 2,050 units, while Tesla reported a paltry 535 units. Take the statistics back just two years ago, and BYD would probably be in last place after every Japanese and European marque. Toyota has been second to BYD since early 2024.

From zero to hero​

BYD’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric.

In 2024, the brand made history by becoming the best-selling car brand in Singapore for the entire year, a remarkable feat for a Chinese EV marque. It registered a staggering 6,191 units, representing an astounding 337% increase from the 1,416 units sold in 2023. This impressive growth secured BYD a commanding 14.4% market share, decisively outpacing Toyota, which recorded 5,736 units, and Tesla, with 2,384 units in the same period.

Reports from the Singapore Strait Times and China Global South both confirm that BYD’s momentum since January of 2024 has only intensified into 2025.

Several key factors underpin BYD’s extraordinary growth. First is the accelerating adoption of electric vehicles in Singapore. BYD is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the nation’s increasing commitment to electrification, by distance and by model range. Singapore’s favorite, the BYD Atto 3, offers compelling value and attractive pricing, especially when considering the notoriously high cost of car ownership in Singapore.

This Certificate of Entitlement (COE) that gives permission to Singaporeans to own a car is extremely pricey — oftentimes more expensive than the car. But EVs enjoy one or the other kind of incentive in the island nation. For instance, government incentives aimed at promoting EV adoption, offering significant tax breaks of up to S$40,000 for EVs, alongside continuous efforts to expand the charging infrastructure, have created a highly conducive environment for EV manufacturers like BYD.

This competitive pricing, coupled with the long-term savings associated with EV ownership, such as reduced fuel and maintenance costs, resonates deeply with Singaporean buyers.

Not second best anymore​

Beyond pricing, the perception of “made-in-China” technology has undergone a significant positive shift. The days when Chinese products were viewed as inherently “second-best” are largely over, replaced by a growing trust in the quality and technological advancements of Chinese brands. Tech-crazy Singapore is still the most dynamic (meaning they frequently replace gadgets) market outside of the US for Chinese-made electronics like iPhones and DJI drones.

BYD’s aggressive overseas expansion strategy, with Singapore serving as a crucial foothold, has also played a vital role. The company has invested in a robust dealership network and established showrooms in highly accessible locations, including prominent financial districts, making the purchasing process remarkably convenient for consumers. This pervasive presence ensures that “you don’t go to a BYD, BYD comes to you,” as one analyst aptly put it.

And a silent brand building campaign? The integration of BYD electric buses into Singapore’s public transport system and a strategic partnership with ride-hailing giant Grab, which plans to expand its EV fleet with up to 50,000 BYD vehicles across Southeast Asia, further enhance the brand’s visibility and solidify its ubiquitous presence.

Play catchup?​

The question then arises: can Toyota’s hybrids catch up?

While Toyota remains a formidable player globally and its hybrids are undeniably popular in many markets due to their fuel efficiency and reliability, Singaporeans presents a distinct challenge. The government’s strong push towards full electric vehicles through substantial incentives heavily favors pure EVs over hybrids.

While cleaner petrol-hybrid cars can still qualify for rebates, these are significantly smaller, capping at S$5,000, in contrast to the much larger subsidies available for battery electric vehicles. This disparity in incentives directly influences consumer purchasing decisions, steering them towards the more heavily incentivized EV options.

Recent data indicates that electric vehicle adoption in Singapore reached a new high in the first three months of 2025, with battery EVs accounting for 40.2% of total car registrations, up from 33.6% in 2024 and 18.1% in 2023. This rapid acceleration suggests a clear preference for full EVs, largely driven by the financial benefits or lack of range anxiety.

Let’s not gloss over the truth that Toyota continues to offer a strong lineup of hybrid vehicles. The company has, in some instances, even delayed its broader EV plans to prioritize the output of popular gas-powered SUVs in other markets. This strategic focus, while understandable from a global perspective, may leave it vulnerable in markets like Singapore, where the policy landscape and consumer sentiment are unequivocally tilting towards pure electric mobility.

Unless Toyota significantly pivots its Singapore strategy to offer more competitive and compelling battery electric vehicle options that can rival BYD’s pricing and value proposition, it faces an uphill battle in reclaiming its top position in a market that has decisively embraced the electric future.

Whether you have solar power or not, please complete our latest solar power survey.
Loading video
Loading video

Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for 15 new cleantech stories a day. Or sign up for our weekly one on top stories of the week if daily is too frequent.

Advertisement‌
 

Can sell to these XXR??​

Or they will just take bus n MRT????

Is earning S$6.8K at 23 in Singapore impressive or just average? Young foreigner asks​


Gemma Iso
ByGemma Iso
July 5, 2025
https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php...ressive-or-just-average-young-foreigner-asks/
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?te...gner-asks/&via=The+Independent+Singapore+News
https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=...ressive-or-just-average-young-foreigner-asks/
https://www.linkedin.com/shareArtic...ressive+or+just+average?+Young+foreigner+asks
https://telegram.me/share/url?url=h...ressive+or+just+average?+Young+foreigner+asks

arrow_forward_ios
Read More


Pause
00:00
00:16
Unmute

SINGAPORE: For most young professionals, the chance to live and work in a foreign country is as exciting as it is unnerving. That’s precisely where one 23-year-old finds himself as he equips himself to transfer to Singapore for a two-year contract, prepared with a newly issued job offer and a monthly remuneration of S$6,800.

With a Reddit post, he put his inquiries to the international online community: Is this a decent compensation for someone just starting? Can I afford rent at S$2,500/month? And significantly, how relaxed and sustainable will my lifestyle be?
 
Actually I was looking at getting a BYD...but due to all these bad news...better to avoid it. If chup lup....the car will be worthless....and cannot even run as no SW update etc.. very sad as in terms of price n features etc it put Toyota to shame
EV should not need servicing in theory and last a lifetime.
 
TBH, I think Attos 3 build is not as robust as Dolphin…Attos 3 is fanciful in appearance

In term of build:
Seal > Dolphin > Atto3

In term of accessories n features
Seal >> Attos 3 > Dolphin
I think build quality depends on target market.
Unlike say cherry motor with chery, jaecoo, icar, jetour brands targeting different segments, byd has none.
 
I think build quality depends on target market.
Unlike say cherry motor with chery, jaecoo, icar, jetour brands targeting different segments, byd has none.
Proton e.MAS7 also have EV is a geely based platform…170k only for samster ;)

Sub Sub water lah
 
Back
Top