Participants applaud the launch of BYD’s 13 millionth new energy vehicle — an all-electric luxury sedan Yangwang U7 — during a ceremony held in Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone on July 21. Photos from BYD and Duchuang

Pingshan-based new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD celebrated the production of its 13 millionth car at its production base in the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone on July 21.

This momentous achievement was marked by the unveiling of a U7 high-performance sedan from Yangwang, BYD’s premium sub-brand. This milestone not only highlights BYD’s growing footprint in the high-end automotive market but also cements its status as a global leader in the NEV industry.

With this achievement, BYD officially became the world’s first automaker to produce 13 million NEVs, setting a new benchmark in the sector. This extraordinary production figure comes just eight months after BYD reached its 10 millionth NEV milestone, which was marked by the launch of the Denza Z9 GT in November 2024.

BYD’s NEV production has grown at an impressive pace. The company had produced 1 million NEVs by May 2021, 3 million by December 2022, 5 million by September 2023, 6 million by November 2023, and 7 million by March 2024.

Pan Zhanle (L), Olympic champion and world record holder in the men’s 100m freestyle, is named brand ambassador for BYD’s flagship Yangwang U7 and becomes the proud owner of BYD’s 13 millionth new energy vehicle.

In the first half of 2025, BYD continued its sales growth. Domestic sales within China topped 2.113 million units, up 31.5% year on year. Sales outside the Chinese mainland increased by 128.5% to 472,000 units, meaning that one in every three Chinese NEVs sold outside the mainland is from BYD.

Insiders note that the launch of the Yangwang U7 carries profound significance, marking a successful breakthrough by BYD — and Chinese brands as a whole — into the high-end automotive market.

Launched in January 2023, Yangwang has sold more than 10,000 units so far, becoming the first Chinese brand to firmly establish itself in the fiercely competitive million-yuan luxury car segment.

BYD was founded in 1995 with around 20 employees. The company has grown to become one of China's largest automakers, with a total workforce of nearly 970,000 at the end of 2024.