Chinese carmaker BYD is continuing its rapid expansion across Europe in 2026, with plans to significantly increase both its dealership network and sales, company executives in Hungary said.
The company aims to expand its European network from more than 1,000 locations across 35 countries to over 2,000 by the end of the year. In Hungary, the number of dealerships is expected to rise from 14 last year to around 30, effectively covering the national market.
According to country director Ádám Rényi-Vámos, the company has started the year strongly, with sales increasing by 84.6 per cent year-on-year in the first two months of 2026.
Data from Datahouse shows that 464 new BYD vehicles were sold in Hungary in January and February, giving the brand a 2.44 per cent share of the combined passenger car and light commercial vehicle market.
In the fully electric vehicle segment, BYD sold more than 300 units during the same period, raising its market share to 18 per cent, up from 16 per cent at the end of 2025. The company now ranks first in Hungary in the plug-in vehicle segment as well as in fully electric light commercial vehicles.
Since entering the Hungarian market in 2023 with three models, BYD has rapidly expanded its offering to include eight fully electric and three plug-in hybrid vehicles. Private buyers account for a larger share of sales, while fleet purchases represent between 40 and 50 per cent.
Rényi-Vámos said the company is aiming for substantial growth this year, targeting a position among the five to six most popular car brands in Hungary. Achieving this would require annual sales exceeding 7,000 units, compared with 2,499 vehicles sold in 2025. He added that reaching this goal will depend largely on the pace at which new dealerships open during the year.
Founded in 2003, BYD Auto is the automotive subsidiary of the Chinese high-tech multinational BYD, focusing on the development of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company is also investing several billion euros in a new production facility in Szeged, where trial production began in the first quarter of 2026, with mass production expected to start in the second quarter.
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