Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has overtaken Toyota to become the best-selling car brand in Singapore so far this year, government data showed, marking a significant milestone in the company’s overseas expansion strategy.
From January through April 2025, BYD sold 3,002 vehicles in Singapore, accounting for 20% of total car sales, ahead of Toyota’s 2,050 units and well above Tesla’s 535 units during the same period.
Toyota had previously dominated Singapore’s auto market, delivering 7,876 vehicles in 2024 compared to BYD’s 6,191 units. However, BYD’s rapid growth highlights the Chinese automaker’s push to expand globally amid intensifying competition and price wars at home.
“BYD’s momentum in Singapore is part of a broader global strategy,” Reuters reported earlier this month, noting that the company aims to sell half of its vehicles outside China by 2030—an ambitious target that would place it among the ranks of the world’s largest carmakers.
BYD only entered Singapore’s consumer market in 2022, more than a year after Tesla, yet has quickly gained traction. In 2023, its sales nearly doubled to 1,416 units, while Tesla’s rose just 7% to 941 units.
Singapore remains one of the world’s most expensive cities for car ownership, due in part to a strict certificate of entitlement system. A compact BYD Atto 3 SUV starts at S$165,888 (US$127,500), while a Toyota Corolla Altis costs around S$170,888.
Beyond Singapore, BYD is experiencing early success across Southeast Asia, with Thailand emerging as its largest overseas market. The company also has plans to further expand in Europe and Latin America.
