New York --:--
Magazine about Earth, Science and Energy
Mobility

BYD plans 7 new hybrid models for Europe as PHEV market heads toward $287 billion

By JUN 8, 2025 11:50 AM 4 MIN READ
BYD new engine Credits: BYD
Google SearchAdd as preferred source→

Build Your Dreams (BYD) took the electric vehicle market by storm in China with its diverse range of models, leaving Tesla behind in the biggest EV market in the world. The brand also has a strong presence in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Uruguay, and Japan. In 2025, the company revealed strong financial results, beating Tesla and making a statement that the EV world has a new king – and the company also has a car with this name. Now, they are off to try a new move that might change the European market forever.

Not everybody is ready for electric vehicles

The electric vehicle revolution is taking over the sales, but not everyone buying a new car chooses vehicles with full electric powertrains. The combustion engine is still preferred by many, but to help traditional buyers make the transition, or at least adopt electric cars, brands are building hybrid versions of their most famous cars.

Ford is one of the biggest and most traditional brands, choosing to power pickups with all-electric powertrains and hybrid models – the Escape, F-150, Maverick, Fusion, and Mustang all offer different versions of the same combustion engine. In 2025, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) market is expected to reach $287.2 billion in revenue, with over 4.35 million units sold. Considering the market projections, BYD made an important move in the European market.

BYD to launch new models in Europe

Keeping in mind that not everyone wants to switch from combustion to electrical powertrains and the thin portfolio in Europe, where one of the only available models is the Seal DM-i sedan, BYD intends to take two more plug-in hybrids to the continent in 2025. In an event in Stuttgart, Germany, the regional chief, Maria Grazia Davino confirmed the plans for the second quarter of the year.

In an interview for The Independent at the New York Auto Show, the executive vice-president Stella Li also confirmed that another five hybrid models will be available in Europe within the next one and a half years. The first models to arrive in Europe should cost less as BYD imports the cars; now, it is subject to EU tariffs, with the new facilities in Hungary and Turkey, which will take on a significant portion of the regional sales on the old continent.

Diversity in the hybrid car models for BYD

Even without the two new hybrid vehicles, the company saw sales increase to 8,500 units in the first quarter of 2025, when compared to the same time span in 2024, selling over 37,000 cars. The brand has an extensive current lineup of hybrid vehicles, with SUVs, sedans, and minivans in the catalogue, featuring two different technological systems: the Dual Mode – Intelligent, which maximizes the EV-like experience for daily use, and the Dual Mode – Performance, which combines the best of both worlds in a performance and power for sportier consumers. The company seems ready to target multiple buyer profiles to make the most out of the market.

Other projects landing in Europe

In addition to the advancements made in the European market, BYD also launched its new premium vehicle brand called Denza. The brand entered the market with its Z9GT model to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Porsche in the luxury market, created to be an alternative to the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo.

The variety of cars Build Your Dreams offers to its clients is one of the biggest reasons why sales are growing and surpassing Tesla all over the world. Tesla has faced headwinds with some of its newer models, and it did not live up to the expectations in certain segments, causing financial loss and obliging Tesla to give their past clients a new benefit program to try to make things right for those who felt disappointed

Read the whole thing?

Get the week's signal, not the noise

Our sharpest reporting on energy, climate and nature — free, once a week.

Share this article
Marcelo C.Staff Writer