Chinese electric vehicle leader BYD reached a new milestone in August, selling a record number of passenger vehicles, even as the broader Chinese EV market experienced a slowdown. The company's hybrid vehicle sales outpaced those of its battery-only models.

In August, BYD reported a 30% year-on-year increase, delivering 370,854 passenger cars. While sales of its battery-only vehicles grew by nearly 12%, sales of hybrid models surged by 48%, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the company's total sales for the month.

In contrast, other Chinese new energy vehicle startups reported a decline in deliveries. Li Auto, known for its range-extender vehicles, delivered 48,122 cars in August, down from a record 51,000 in July. Aito, which utilizes Huawei technology, reported 31,216 deliveries, a significant drop from the previous month. 

Meanwhile, Nio reported 20,176 deliveries in August, slightly down from July but maintaining a streak of over 20,000 deliveries for the fourth consecutive month. 

Xpeng delivered 14,036 cars in August, marking its best month of the year. 

Zeekr saw a month-on-month increase with 18,015 deliveries in August, though still down from 20,206 units in June. 

BYD also reported strong international sales, with 31,451 cars sold overseas in August, bringing the year-to-date total to 264,869 units, surpassing the 242,765 cars it sold internationally for all of last year. If this pace continues, BYD is on track to sell nearly 400,000 vehicles outside China in 2024.

Despite a broader market slowdown, BYD's strategic growth in hybrid models and international markets continues to solidify its position as a dominant player in the global EV market.