It's no secret that BYD cars have been selling well in recent years. What's truly worth pondering is: when existing owners replace their cars, are they willing to stick with BYD?
According to data from the China Automotive Technology & Research Center and iCar, among car companies' repurchase rates from January to December 2025, BYD reached 30.55%, surpassing Tesla. Another set of data on the flow of upgrades and exchanges to new energy vehicles shows BYD also ranks high, with a first-choice rate of 45%.
This information is valuable for those considering upgrading to a new energy vehicle. But let me make this clear upfront:
A high repurchase rate does not mean you can buy any BYD model without regret.
01. Existing owners are willing to buy again—this is more than just "cheap hype"
Buying a car is a bit like choosing a restaurant. A restaurant first attracts you with its signboard, price, queue, or friend recommendations. But going back a second time depends not on the hype, but on whether you felt it was worth it after your first visit. The same goes for cars.
When existing owners switch cars, they have more options. After driving for a while, they know whether the car is convenient in daily use, whether after-sales communication is smooth, whether family members are satisfied, and whether they've been annoyed by minor issues. If they still choose the same brand, it means the brand hasn't driven them away in real-world use.
BYD's 30.55% repurchase rate clearly means: for every three cars sold, roughly one comes from continued support by existing users. This ratio reflects not just sales momentum, but also users' ongoing recognition of the brand, products, and services.
But don't misinterpret this. A high repurchase rate only means "a considerable portion of existing users are willing to come back." It cannot answer for you whether a specific model's seats are comfortable, whether the rear seats are spacious enough, whether the infotainment system is user-friendly, or whether your local after-sales experience is good. When ordinary people buy a car, they ultimately buy a specific vehicle they will drive every day, not just a brand slogan.
02. A high first-choice rate for upgrades indicates the power of word-of-mouth
Another piece of data is even more interesting: among users upgrading or switching to new energy vehicles, BYD's first-choice rate reaches 45%.
What does this mean? It means that many people, when switching from a gasoline car to a new energy car, or from their first new energy car to the next, have BYD on their priority list. This is partly due to brand coverage, product variety, and market buzz, but more importantly, it's about word-of-mouth.
Today's car buyers are much savvier than before. No matter how flashy the sales pitch or how exciting the auto reviews, people take them with a grain of salt. When it comes to spending real money, many still ask existing owners: How is this car to drive? Any regrets? Is after-sales reliable? Is it comfortable for the family?
Recommendations between acquaintances are far more powerful than ads. If a car doesn't cause complaints daily and even makes owners willing to recommend it to friends and family, it creates a snowball effect. BYD's current advantage in upgrade flows likely benefits from this word-of-mouth dividend.
However, word-of-mouth has its limits. Your friend's good experience doesn't mean your family structure, commute, parking conditions, and charging conditions are the same. With the same budget, do you prioritize trouble-free daily use or a sporty driving feel? Do you commute in the city or often take long trips? Do you have fixed charging at home? These questions matter more than "what others are buying."
03. BYD's strength lies in making new energy vehicles a choice for ordinary people
I think BYD's greatest achievement in recent years is not making a single model seem magical, but making many people who were hesitant about new energy vehicles feel "this might be worth trying."
This is crucial. The biggest hurdle for new energy vehicles early on wasn't technical jargon, but trust. Many families think practically when buying a car: don't be too troublesome, don't take too many risks, don't end up being called a guinea pig by those around you.
When a brand's user base is large enough—visible on the streets, driven by friends and relatives, and with easily accessible service networks—it naturally reduces purchase anxiety. For daily use, many people want peace of mind, not excitement. Crowded showrooms, numerous models, and high discussion levels all reinforce this sense of security.
But I don't recommend interpreting this security as "any choice will work." BYD's product line is broad, with different models targeting different groups. Some are better for city commuting, some for family use, some for young people's emotional value, and some for practical commuting. If you choose based solely on brand popularity and ignore the specific model's size, features, powertrain type, and usage scenario, the chance of buying the wrong car remains high.
04. What you should really watch out for is treating repurchase rate as a shortcut
A high repurchase rate is a plus. But it's not a free pass. I've seen many people who initially focus on big trends end up bothered by daily commute fatigue, whether elderly family members can get in and out easily, whether kids' stuff has space, or whether the infotainment system is intuitive. Many choices look right online but reveal their annoyances only after driving home.
So for those preparing to upgrade or switch to BYD, my advice is simple: First, consider "brand recognition" as the first layer; then, put "specific model suitability" as the second layer.
At the first layer, BYD indeed has data to back it up: a 30.55% repurchase rate and a 45% first-choice rate for new energy upgrades show it's not a brand built on hype alone. At the second layer, you must verify for yourself. For example, whether the seats suit your family, whether rear access is convenient, whether the trunk can hold daily large items, whether the infotainment logic is acceptable, and whether the driving dynamics and smoothness during a test drive match your preferences.
A brand can reduce your trial-and-error cost, but it cannot make the choice for you. The trouble is: data tells you "many people still choose it," but it doesn't tell you "whether your family fits this car." This step must come back to your own life.
05. Should you buy now? My suggestion is to consider it conditionally
If you're considering upgrading to a new energy vehicle, BYD deserves a spot on your priority list.
Who is it suitable for? Those who want to switch from gasoline to new energy without taking too many risks; those who value a brand's user base and have friends or family driving BYD; and existing BYD owners who want to maintain familiar usage logic in their next car.
Who is it not suitable for? If you are particularly picky about a certain aspect—such as extreme focus on driving feel, seat comfort, infotainment logic, smart driving assistance, or long-distance charging—or if you need to calculate every configuration precisely, don't decide based on repurchase rate alone. You need to focus on specific models, test drive them carefully, and ideally bring your family along.
My buying advice: Conditional consideration. BYD's repurchase rate and first-choice rate for upgrades do indicate that the brand carries weight with users. But buying a car is not voting for a brand; it's spending money on your own daily life. You can let these data increase your trust starting point for BYD, but ultimately, whether to buy depends on whether that specific model spends your money on what you truly need. If you already know a BYD owner, I'd suggest asking them three questions: How long have you driven it? What are you most satisfied with? What do you most dislike? These three answers are more useful than a bunch of pretty words.
Leave a comment: If you were upgrading to a new energy vehicle, would you prioritize BYD? Do you trust repurchase rate data more, or the real feedback from nearby owners?