BYD says 2026 sales hinge on battery output as demand outpaces supply

BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu said at the June 9 annual meeting that 2026 sales depend on battery capacity, with a major ramp-up expected in 2027.carnewschina
The Blade Battery 2.0, which charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes, has driven over 100,000 pre-orders for the Great Tang SUV alone, delaying its launch.carnewschina
BYD’s May global deliveries rose slightly year over year, snapping an eight-month sales decline, with overseas shipments surging to a record, according to Reuters.reuters

BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0 Demand Outpaces Production as Sales Rebound

BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu told shareholders on June 9 that the company’s 2026 sales will largely depend on battery production capacity, acknowledging that demand for its second-generation Blade Battery has outstripped supply since mass production began in early March. The admission came at BYD’s 2025 annual general meeting in Shenzhen, which drew a record attendance of nearly 1,000 shareholders.carnewschina

Battery Bottleneck

The Blade Battery 2.0, which charges from 10% to 97% in nine minutes using BYD’s 1,500-kilowatt flash charging stations, has driven a surge in orders that the company cannot yet fulfill. BYD’s Great Tang SUV alone accumulated more than 100,000 pre-orders before its launch was pushed back due to battery supply constraints, while the Song Ultra EV secured over 61,000 orders within a month of going on sale in late March. Wang said a much larger capacity release is expected in 2027.electrek

Vertically Integrated Charging Push

BYD’s strategy of building its own megawatt-class charging network sets it apart from rivals CATL and other battery makers that have pursued partnerships with third-party charging operators. BYD plans to have 20,000 flash charging stations operating across China by year-end, with 4,239 already operational as of early March and roughly 3,000 additional stations planned for Europe. Each station incorporates on-site energy storage to buffer grid demand during peak charging periods.battery-tech

Sales Turnaround

The fast-charging technology helped BYD post 383,453 wholesale deliveries in May, a 0.3% year-on-year increase that snapped an eight-month streak of sales declines stretching back to July 2025, according to Reuters. Overseas shipments surged 80.4% to a record 160,644 units, offsetting a 24% drop in domestic sales. Wang told shareholders he remains confident BYD will become the world’s largest automaker by scale within five years, powered by what he described as a “dual engine” of domestic technology leadership and international expansion.goodcarbadcar