According to reports, BYD would like to bring plug-in hybrids to Europe-in response to EU tariffs and growing demand. Will the strategy open?
• BYD wants to bring plug-in hybrid to Europe faster
• EU tariffs promote change of strategy
• Apparently, new models should follow soon
According to media reports, the Chinese automotive giant BYD adapts its European strategy and focuses more on plug-in hybrids. Originally active on the European market with purely battery -electric vehicles, BYD apparently reacts to changed market conditions and a growing demand for partial electric drives. The strategic change takes place against the background of political and economic developments – and already shows initial successes, it said.
Plug-in hybrid in response to new tariffs?
With the Atto 2, the Tesla competitor is apparently already planning the next model with partial electrical drive. The compact SUV is scheduled to come to Europe this year-first as a pure electric version, later as a plug-in hybrid. As Ecomento reports, citing the automotive week, the plug-in hybrid version was originally supposed to follow around six months after the market launch. According to Automotive News Europe, this schedule is now being shortened: “BYD is now working to submit a plug-in variant within three to four months after the start of a new electric model-and could even reduce this period to about two months,” quotes Ecomento an insider.
According to the automotive week, the Denza brand, which belongs to the premium segment, will also offer plug-in hybrids in the future. The Z9 GT is initially introduced as a Stromer, but could also be offered later with an internal combustion engine.
An essential driver of this reorientation is the additional taxes introduced by the European Union on electric cars from China. For battery -electric vehicles such as BYD, this means a total of 27 percent – ten percent of regular customs plus 17 percent punitive tariff. Plug-in hybrids, on the other hand, are spared from these surcharges, which gives them a decisive price advantage.
Successful start: BYD’s first plug-in hybrid in Europe
The beginning of this new strategy already marked the Seal U DM-I, which was the first plug-in hybrid of the company in Europe. The combination of combustion and electric motor – referred to at BYD as “dual motor” – is well received by customers: As Ecomento reports on data from the market analyst DataForce, 4,369 units were already sold by February 2025. The hybrid variant significantly exceeds the sales figures for the purely electrical version and accounts for around 32 percent of all BYD sales in Europe.
Overall, the sales of BYD in Europe rose by an impressive 188 percent to 13,685 vehicles in the same period, of which almost three quarters were on plug-in hybrids. The SUV Seal U – with almost 5,700 approvals until February, is particularly in demand on the European market.
European car market: market trend favors BYDS course
The European car market is increasingly developing in favor of plug-in hybrids. From January to March 2025, according to Statista data, around 63,800 plug-in hybrids were newly approved-an increase of 41.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The total number of newly approved hybrid vehicles also increased.
The combination of everyday suitability, electrical reach and tax advantages makes plug-in hybrids particularly attractive for many buyers according to industry experts. In addition, there is increasing regulatory pressure: Stricter CO2 goals force manufacturers to reduce their fleet consumption. Hybrids offer a flexible solution for this without having to do without existing combustion platforms.
How does BYD deal with EU tariffs: local production as a long-term solution?
According to reports, the new BYD plant in Hungary is expected to start production in the fourth quarter of 2025. A location in Turkey is also being planned. In addition, speculation in Europe is speculated over a third work. Local production should help in the long term to bypass tariffs and optimize supply chains. Until then, BYD could possibly continue to rely on plug-in hybrids to increase market penetration in Europe.
With the accelerated introduction of plug-in hybrids, BYD reacts to market changes and political framework conditions in Europe. The strategy already has an effect in the sales figures. However, it remains to be seen whether the realignment will pay off in the long term.
Editor finance.net
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