File photo: BYD vehicles are for sale in a dealership in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, on March 7, 2025. Photo: CFP

By Brasil 247 – Chinese automaker BYD reached a significant milestone in the Brazilian automotive market by securing fifth place in the national vehicle sales ranking in January 2026. The result highlights the brand’s steady expansion in the country and signals a gradual reshaping of competition among leading manufacturers in the South American country. 

According to data released on Tuesday by the National Federation of Motor Vehicle Distribution (Fenabrave), BYD sold 9,755 vehicles during the month. The figure represents a 50.5% increase compared with January 2025, when the company registered sales of 6,481 units.

This performance raised BYD’s market share in Brazil to 7.8%, up from 5.25% recorded in the same month last year. The growth allowed the automaker to surpass Toyota in total sales and move closer to Hyundai, which ranked fourth with 10,176 vehicles sold in January. The difference between the two brands was 421 units, indicating an increasingly competitive scenario among Asian manufacturers in the Brazilian market.

With the new ranking, BYD now competes more directly with long-established manufacturers in Brazil, including Fiat, Volkswagen and General Motors, reinforcing its role as a growing force in the country’s automotive industry.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on Feb 4, 2026)