Chinese automaker BYD has hired about 150,000 additional employees over 10 months, even as its vehicle sales have declined. The increase has pushed the company's total workforce over one million people, more than Toyota, General Motors, Ford, and Tesla combined.
Here's what to know
According to Electrek, BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu shared the news at the 33rd annual conference of the China Society of Automotive Engineers. Of the company's 1.02 million employees, about 960,000 work in China, while roughly 60,000 are based abroad. The figure showed a stark increase in hiring despite a decline in sales.
From January through September 2026, the automaker sold 3,131,576 vehicles, down 3.9% from the same period in 2025. However, September was its strongest sales month of 2026, with 463,561 vehicles sold, per Electrek.
BYD has faced an intense price war in China with competition from Geely and Leapmotor, leading to declines in year-over-year revenue and net profit during the first half of 2026.
More background
Wang credited vertical integration for the company's massive workforce. BYD makes its own batteries, semiconductors, and motors while also operating energy storage and rail transit businesses, according to Electrek.
Wang said BYD employs up to 120,000 research and development engineers working on semiconductors, electronic controls, motors, and battery cells—nearly as many as Tesla's entire reported workforce of 134,785, according to Electrek. However, BYD's additional operations have made direct staffing comparisons with other automakers misleading.
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For example, BYD presently makes about 5.3 vehicles per worker, compared with roughly 12 at Tesla and 29 at Toyota. However, BYD's employee count has included workers making products beyond its own vehicles, including batteries supplied to other automakers.
What's being done?
BYD has been expanding production internationally, with plants coming online in Thailand, Brazil, and Hungary, according to Electrek. Tariffs in markets including Europe, Brazil, and Mexico have pushed the company to manufacture vehicles closer to its overseas customers.
The push to expand into international markets has paid off. BYD's international sales reached 1,342,960 vehicles through September 2026, up 92.7% year over year and accounting for about 43% of its total sales.
While local factories could help BYD navigate trade barriers, Electrek cautioned that overseas production may not replicate the economics of manufacturing in China.
Where can I learn more?
The following stories examine other aspects of BYD's expansion, from entries into overseas markets to building out the BYD charging network.
• BYD's September sales reached a 2026 high, helped by a boom in overseas demand.
• EU tariffs have pushed BYD into Hungary, with three more European factories planned.
• BYD vehicles have been spotted road-testing in Canada, fueling speculation about the brand's arrival.
• In China, BYD has installed 10,000 flash charging stations, bringing five-minute EV charging closer.
• U.S. bans on Chinese EVs could shield domestic automakers while limiting consumer choice.
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