(Feb 11): Ford Motor Co lost out to BYD Co in global vehicle sales for the first time last year as the Chinese manufacturer continued its climb up the rankings of the world’s largest automakers.
Ford’s wholesale sales dropped almost 2% last year to just under 4.4 million, short of the 4.6 million vehicles BYD reported in January. The figure the US automaker disclosed on Tuesday confirms BYD has moved up to No 6 in the global sales ranks, one spot ahead of Ford.
While Ford’s US sales rose last year, it has lost ground in Europe and particularly China, where domestic manufacturers like BYD, Xiaomi Corp and Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd have grabbed market share from foreign automakers with affordable, tech-laden EVs.
Ford has weathered a difficult EV transition, announcing US$19.5 billion in charges to overhaul its strategy.
BYD has also made inroads into markets in Europe, South America and Asia, with exports reaching 1.05 million in 2025. It aims to increase that to 1.3 million this year.
Still, it faces a more challenging 2026 at home, as government subsidies are wound back and regulators warning manufacturers face severe penalties if they keep up their aggressive discounting.
See also: Ford in talks with Geely to share European production capacity — reports
Overall, Toyota Motor Corp held on to the No 1 position for the sixth year in a row, with global sales rising 4.6% to 11.3 million.
Uploaded by Isabelle Francis
