BYD profit falls 30% as domestic EV price war hits margins

On the Dash:

• BYD’s Q2 net profit fell nearly 30% to 6.36 billion yuan ($891 million) due to an aggressive domestic EV price war.
• Despite profit pressures, BYD’s revenue grew 14% in Q2 and first-half sales surged, with strong international expansion, particularly in Europe.
• Intense price competition in China has pushed EV prices down about 19% over two years, prompting authorities to warn carmakers against excessive discounting. 

On Monday, shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD tumbled nearly 8% after the company reported a 30% drop in quarterly profit, highlighting the challenges of an aggressive domestic price war.

The Tesla rival posted net profit of 6.36 billion yuan ($891 million) for the April-June quarter, down from a year earlier, even as revenue climbed 14% to roughly 201 billion yuan, driven by strong overseas sales. BYD said increased price competition and frequent heavy marketing in China had exerted “an adverse periodic impact” on the industry.

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For the first half of 2025, BYD’s net profit reached 15.5 billion yuan, up nearly 14%, while revenue rose about 23% to 371.3 billion yuan. The company also reported record new energy vehicle sales, reflecting continued demand for its electric models.

China’s EV prices have dropped roughly 19% over the past two years, according to industry data, prompting authorities in May to warn that carmakers could face penalties for fueling excessive price cuts. Analysts say the intense domestic competition continues to pressure margins for leading EV manufacturers like BYD.

To offset domestic challenges, BYD has been aggressively expanding overseas. In Europe, the company opened new showrooms and launched competitively priced models, with July registrations exceeding 13,000, a 225% increase from a year earlier, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Despite short-term profit pressures, BYD’s global expansion underscores its strategy of balancing domestic competition with international growth, helping the automaker maintain momentum in the booming EV market.