BYD Auto NZ reaches 15,000 vehicle sales milestone

Damien O’Carroll

  • Sign in required

    Please sign in to your account to add a vehicle to favourite

  • Share this article

  • BYD Auto New Zealand recently reached a sales milestone, ticking up 15,000 vehicles on local roads.
  • The company hit the number just four years after launching in New Zealand in 2022.
  • Its first car here, the Atto 3 EV, was an instant success, paving the way for a model range that now consists of PHEVs as well.

BYD Auto New Zealand has recorded its 15,000th vehicle on local roads, just four years after launching in the country in 2022.

The milestone marks one of the quickest scale-ups by a new automotive entrant in the local market. Having entered New Zealand with a small footprint and a limited selection of vehicles - literally just the Atto 3 initially -  the brand's lineup has since expanded across electric and plug-in hybrid passenger cars, SUVs, and utes.

BYD launched in New Zealand in 2022 with just the Atto 3, a single model that proved to be incredibly popular and quickly established the brand here.

The current New Zealand range currently consists of the Atto 1, Atto 2, Atto 3, Seal sedan, Seal 6 wagon, Sealion 5, Sealion 6, Sealion 7, Sealion 8, and the Shark 6 Ute, while the company has also expanded its dealer and service network to 25 locations across both the North and South Islands. Additional retail and service sites are confirmed to open before the end of 2026.

Speaking on the milestone, BYD Auto NZ General Manager Warren Willmot highlighted the adoption of the brand among both private households and commercial buyers.

Since its launch here BYD has expanded its range into the SUV, ute, hatch and wagon segments, adding plug-in hybrid powertrains along the way.

"Reaching 15,000 vehicles on New Zealand roads is a monumental moment for BYD," he said. "It represents thousands of individual decisions by Kiwi families and businesses to back a brand that didn't exist here four years ago. Every one of those vehicles is a vote of confidence, and we don't take that lightly."

Willmot added that initial expectations were simply for local buyers to give the brand a try, but sales have reflected a broader shift in how New Zealanders consider their vehicle choices.

"Every one of these 15,000 vehicles is doing double duty," Willmot said.

The Shark 6 ute has been another very popular BYD model that has helped the brand hit the sales milestone.

"It’s getting Kiwi families where they need to go, and it’s quietly taking a bite out of New Zealand’s transport emissions at the same time. That’s a legacy we’re proud to be building."

Looking ahead, BYD Auto NZ confirmed it will continue investing in its dealership network, after-sales operations, and product lineup. Further vehicle shipments and additional model launches are scheduled through the remainder of 2026 and beyond.