BYD surpasses Ford in global vehicle sales in 2025

China’s BYD reported it surpassed Ford in global vehicle sales in 2025 for the first time, according to company statements.

Ford announced its sales totaled around 4.4 million units last year, down from about 4.5 million in 2024.

BYD said its sales reached around 4.6 million units in 2025, a rise from the previous year.

In global rankings, BYD moved up to sixth place, while Ford dropped to seventh.

Ford’s sales in the US increased, but the company experienced drops in China and Europe.

The figures are based on company disclosures.

🔗 Source: Chosunbiz

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Ford said it sold around 4.4 million vehicles worldwide in 2025, down from about 4.5 million in 2024. It added that U.S. sales rose, while sales slipped in China and Europe.
A Europe market roundup described Ford’s full-year 2025 sales in Europe as flat 1.
Focus2move global group ranking data (a dataset that tracks vehicle sales by automaker group) puts Ford Group’s steepest regional drop in Asia, down 11% year-to-date through November 2025 2.
BYD said its 2025 global sales rose to around 4.6 million vehicles. A Europe market roundup lists BYD sales up 268.6% in 2025 1.
In Focus2move data, BYD volume in the Americas rose 43.6% year-to-date through November 2025, while Asia fell 8.5% 2.

Ford’s global sales decline and market ranking slide are steering it toward partnerships with companies that now sell more vehicles.
Accounts describe advanced discussions with China’s Geely (a major Chinese automaker) on an industrial partnership. One option involves building Geely vehicles at Ford’s underused plant in Valencia, Spain, which could help Geely avoid EU tariffs on China-built EVs 3.
Separate coverage links Ford to talks on using BYD batteries in overseas factories 4.
This trend fits a wider industry shift where western automakers face tougher competition, so they pursue collaborations to cut costs and adapt 3.