BYD Sells More Vehicles Than Ford For The First Time

BYD of China has made big gains in sales in the third quarter of 2024 calendar year to overtake Ford Motor Company in vehicle sales for the first time. 
The electric vehicle company has witnessed extraordinary expansion this year as it increased its capacity and hired more manpower. Overtaking Tesla, the electric vehicle automaker made big gains on the back of robust sales in its domestic market by exceeding its annual sales target of four million vehicles. This would be more than the worldwide sale of Honda and Ford in 2024. 
Delivering 3.76 million vehicles in the first 11 months of 2024, according to industry sources, the electric vehicle manufacturer from China reported 506,804 units for November alone. 
Offering BEVs and plug-in hybrids, BYD has clearly achieved a considerable gain in market share in its home market while it pursues a steady growth in exports markets around the world including India. 
Interestingly, 90 percent of all that the company produces is sold in its home market, the export market share being 10 percent unlike some of the other automakers who have a better exports market share in comparison to the vehicles they sell in their home markets. 
According to the October 2024 data by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), BYD garnered a market share of 16.2 percent in its domestic market, up from 12.5 percent in 2023. The Volkswagen and SAIC joint venture along with the other joint venture with FAW Group joint venture garnered a market share of 12.5 percent jointly, in comparison. It registered a decline from last year’s market share of 14.2 percent. 
Given the sales BYD has achieved by the first 11 months of the 2024 calendar year, it is likely to end the year by inching closer to the numbers General Motors and Stellantis does. 
 

Image for representative purpose only.

BYD India Opens Bookings For Sealion 7 First Anniversary Edition

BYD Sealion 7

BYD India has announced the opening of bookings for the Sealion 7 First Anniversary Edition, a performance electric SUV. Reservations commenced on 17 March 2026 with a booking amount of INR 70,000.

The Sealion 7 is available in two variants – Sealion 7 Premium (82.56 kWh) at INR 4.94 million and Sealion 7 Performance (82.56 kWh) at INR 5.49 million. The first 1,100 customers who book by 30 April 2026 will receive an 11 kW home charger with installation and two years of free maintenance. This edition also features an 8-year or 150,000 km warranty on the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Low Voltage Battery, alongside a standard 8-year or 160,000 km warranty on the high-voltage battery.

The SUV utilises Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, where the Blade Battery serves as a structural component of the chassis. It also features Intelligence Torque Adaptation Control (iTAC) to manage driving dynamics.

Performance and range figures (NEDC) include:

  • Performance Variant: zero to 100 kmph in 4.5 seconds; 542 km range.
  • Premium Variant: zero to 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds; 567 km range.

The exterior features ‘Ocean X’ styling, while the First Anniversary Edition introduces a Tahiti Blue interior. The cabin is equipped with a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, a 12-speaker Dynaudio system and Vehicle-to-Load (VTOL) capability, allowing the car to power external devices.

Since its introduction at Bharat Expo 2025, the Sealion 7 has recorded sales exceeding 2,500 units in India.

Rajeev Chauhan, Head of Electric Passenger Vehicles Business, BYD India, said, “The BYD Sealion 7 represents the next generation of performance electric SUVs, combining advanced technology, distinctive design, and everyday practicality. The First Anniversary Edition celebrates this journey while bringing additional value to our customers. With exclusive benefits for the first 1100 customers only and enhanced ownership advantages such as the 8-year Low Voltage Battery warranty, we aim to make premium electric mobility even more compelling for Indian consumers.”

Ather Energy Expands Service Network To 500 Centres Across India

Ather Energy - Service Centre

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer Ather Energy has announced the expansion of its service network to 500 authorised centres nationwide. The company nearly doubled its service footprint in the 2026 fiscal year, increasing from 277 to 500 locations in alignment with its retail growth.

The expansion includes the deployment of Gold Service Centres, which feature standardised lounges and maintenance equipment. To reduce turnaround times, the company has implemented the ExpressCare initiative at 82 centres, allowing for periodic maintenance to be completed within 60 minutes.

Ather’s service network now covers Tier-1, Tier-2, and emerging cities, supporting the Ather 450 performance range and the Rizta family scooter. The company plans to increase its retail presence to 700 Experience Centres by the end of FY2026, up from 600 centres recorded on 31 December 2025.

Furthermore, as of 31 December 2025, the Ather Grid consists of 4,357 fast-charging points and neighbourhood chargers. This infrastructure is intended to provide comprehensive support for the increasing user base across India.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we continue to scale our retail footprint and customer base across the country. From the early days, we have focused on building service capacity alongside sales because reliable after-sales support is a core part of the overall ownership experience. As our presence grows, having a strong service network becomes even more critical. Our focus is on ensuring that riders have access to trained technicians, transparent processes, and consistent service quality wherever they are.”

Ultraviolette Automotive Partners Bolt.Earth To Expand Type-6 Fast Charging Network In India

Ultraviolette - Bolt.earth

Ultraviolette and Bolt.Earth have announced a collaboration to deploy a nationwide interoperable Type-6 DC charging network. The initiative focuses on scaling charging infrastructure for the two-wheeler and three-wheeler electric vehicle (EV) segments.

Type-6 is the recognised national standard for light EV DC charging in India, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards as IS 17017. It is also internationally standardised as IEC 62196-6.

The charging technology is based on 3kW DC charging. The Ultraviolette e-motorcycle can be charged from zero to 80 percent in approximately 2.5 hours and to 100 percent charge in 3.5 hours.

The system incorporates a multi-layer safety architecture, including over/under voltage protection and short circuit protection; earth detection & reverse polarity protection and emergency push button for industrial reliability.

The public charging services is currently live in Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The partners plan to upgrade 50 stations over the next two months, with a long-term goal of deploying 2,000 chargers within a 24-month horizon.

Bolt.Earth will also introduce 6kW and 12kW Blaze DC chargers to support high-density routes. All new installations are compatible with the Ultraviolette product range, as the vehicles are built using the Type-6 interface.

Niraj Rajmohan, Co-founder & CTO, Ultraviolette, said, “Ultraviolette’s vision is to push the boundaries of electric mobility not only through product innovation, but by helping shape the ecosystem that will power the future of mobility. Our collaboration with Bolt.Earth is an important step in advancing Type-6 Fast Charging infrastructure in India - an interoperable, scalable standard built specifically for the needs of 2W and 3W EVs. Ultraviolette vehicles already adopt the Type-6 interface, and this collaboration expands real-world charging access on a nationally recognized standard. As public charging infrastructure evolves, interoperability will be critical to accelerating EV adoption, improving rider confidence, and enabling the next stage of growth for electric mobility in India.”

S Raghav Bharadwaj, CEO & Co-Founder, Bolt.Earth, commented, “Easy access to fast charging is the foundation of a truly scalable EV ecosystem in India, especially during the transitional period. It must feel as natural as refueling, always within reach. With Blaze DC, we’ve integrated the Type 6 connector to create India’s first universal fast charger for two- and three-wheelers, built to work seamlessly with what exists today and what’s coming tomorrow. This isn’t about creating new standards but ensuring that the right one is adopted at scale. In the months ahead, Blaze DC will be deployed across major metros, and in years to come, it will form the backbone of everyday charging nationwide.”

VinFast Extends Free EV Charging Till 2029 In India

VinFast

Vietnamese automotive company VinFast has announced a three-year extension of its free charging policy across its operational markets. The incentive applies to all private customers and commercial operators, including drivers on the Green SM ride-hailing platform.

Vingroup, the parent company of VinFast, had recently introduced the ‘Trade Gas for Electric’ programme in India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Running from 11 March to 31 March 2026, the initiative provides a 3 percent discount on electric cars and a 5 percent discount on electric scooters for customers transitioning from petrol vehicles. This offer can be combined with existing market-specific incentives.

Additionally, the ‘GreenForAll’ programme offers a 10 percent discount to users of Green SM electric taxi services in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam during the same period.

The free charging policy is supported by the V-Green charging network, which is undergoing expansion across Asian and international markets. VinFast’s strategy to promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption includes:

  • Battery subscription programmes to reduce initial purchase costs.
  • Resale value guarantees for used vehicles.
  • Flexible payment options and warranty coverage.

Duong Thi Thu Trang, Deputy CEO, Global Sales at VinFast, stated, “VinFast’s initial free charging policy received strong support from consumers, both in Vietnam and in international markets where VinFast operates. Extending this policy for another three years is the next step in our strategy to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. VinFast believes that when operating costs are optimised to nearly zero, consumers will have greater confidence and motivation to switch to green mobility, while also contributing to the greening of transportation systems in these countries.”