Autoindustrie: Studie: BYD verschärft Preiswettbewerb bei Hybrid-Autos

German carmaker BYD is intensifying price competition in the plug-in hybrid market in Germany, according to industry analyst Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. In a regular market study by private "Center Automotive Research (CAR)," Dudenhöffer notes BYD applies dual price pressure - lower list prices and highest discounts. Plug-in hybrids combine a combustion and electric motor.

Dudenhöffer attributes this to an import of "price wars from China," where a hard discount competition has been ongoing due to low demand for some time. BYD sold nearly one million vehicles in the first half of 2026, around 40 percent fewer than a year prior. The Chinese manufacturer's strong performance in new plug-in hybrid registrations positions it among the top four in Germany.

In July, BYD held 10.7 percent of the market share in this segment, ranking fourth. BYD offered an average discount of 27.5 to 31.8 percent on its two models in the top ranking. Compared to March, average discounts on hybrids were 18.2 percent, while in August, they dropped to 17.4 percent for electric models and 18.9 percent for combustion engines.

The price gap between plug-in hybrids and combustion engines has narrowed, standing at more than 2,000 euros since December 2025. Dudenhöffer attributes this to state subsidies for electric cars, which he deems counterproductive. "Automakers use the state premium to reduce discounts for electric vehicles," he writes.