(Yicai) Jan. 27 -- Chinese new energy vehicle giant BYD became Singapore’s top-selling car brand for the first time ever last year, beating Toyota Motor, BMW, and Tesla.

BYD sold 6,191 electric vehicles in Singapore last year, up 337 percent from the previous year and seizing a 14.4 percent share of the local automotive market, according to recent data from the Shenzhen-based company.

In addition to BYD-branded models, the carmaker has also been selling two models under the Denza marque in Singapore since last October. BYD announced it would gain full control of Denza, its premium EV joint venture with Germany’s Mercedes-Benz Group, last September.

Nearly 14,450 NEVs were sold in Singapore last year, accounting for nearly 34 percent of the total sales, compared with 5,467 units for 18 percent of the total in 2023. More than 70 percent of the electric cars sold in the city-state last year were from BYD, Tesla, and BMW.

China exported almost 5.86 million autos in 2024, up over 19 percent from the year before. BYD’s exports soared 72 percent to about 433,000 units in the period, becoming the country’s fastest-growing exporter.

Editor: Futura Costaglione