BYD Dominates Three Rankings, Reshaping NEV Tech Competition

Zhengzhou Speedway Signals China’s EV Tech Ascendancy

On August 14th, the grand opening of BYD’s Zhengzhou All-Terrain Speedway served as more than just a celebratory event. During the opening remarks, Li Yunfei, General Manager of Branding and Public Relations at BYD Group, highlighted a landmark achievement: Chinese automakers now command a majority share of global patents across the three pillars of new energy vehicle (NEV) technology – hybrid, pure electric, and the broader NEV landscape.

“Across these three crucial technological domains, a total of 17 Chinese flags are flying high. This is remarkable, and hard-earned,” Li stated, underscoring China’s strategic leap forward in NEV technology.

The pronouncement follows the recent release of authoritative rankings by China Automotive Information Corporation (CAIC), a subsidiary of China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC) specializing in intellectual property. CAIC’s reports, titled “Global Automotive New Energy Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking,” “Global Automotive Hybrid Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking,” and “Global Automotive Pure Electric Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking,” showcase BYD’s dominance. The company secures the top spot in all three categories, a testament to its extensive technological prowess and R&D capabilities. Furthermore, Chinese companies populate over half the rankings in each list. This not only solidifies BYD’s leadership but signals a broader surge in Chinese NEV technology and a historic overtaking of established Western automakers.

Red Flags Fly High: China’s NEV Tech Stack Surges

The CAIC’s patent authorization rankings reveal that Chinese automakers account for at least half of the entries in each of the three lists. In the hybrid technology ranking, Chinese companies even comprise a staggering 70%. In total, 17 Chinese flags are represented across the three listings. This demonstrates a collaborative ecosystem within the Chinese NEV industry, where technological progress is driven both by leading companies and a collective push. This reflects China’s comprehensive technological advantages and industrial competitiveness across the entire NEV value chain, marking a successful “corner cut” past legacy Western automakers.

Here are the specific rankings released by CAIC:

Global Automotive New Energy Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking

Data retrieval categories include the broad category of new energy technology (including hybrid, pure electric technology and other subcategories). The statistics cover the period up to July 31, 2025, and are ranked by primary applicant. The specific rankings are as follows:

(Image: Global Automotive New Energy Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking)

Global Automotive Pure Electric Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking

Data retrieval categories include pure electric technology (including pure electric drive assembly, three-electric technology and other subcategories). The statistics cover the period up to July 31, 2025, and are ranked by primary applicant. The specific rankings are as follows:

(Image: Global Automotive Pure Electric Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking)

Global Automotive Hybrid Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking

Data retrieval categories include hybrid technology (including hybrid drive assembly technology and other subcategories). The statistics cover the period up to July 31, 2025, and are ranked by primary applicant. The specific rankings are as follows:

(Image: Global Automotive Hybrid Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking)

BYD: Patent King Crowned Across Three Global Rankings

Patent Volume Demonstrates Technological Edge

CAIC’s latest patent authorization rankings show BYD at the helm of the “Global Automotive New Energy Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking,” “Global Automotive Hybrid Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking,” and “Global Automotive Pure Electric Technology Chinese Patent Authorization Ranking.” This considerable lead translates to a significantly richer and more advanced portfolio of patented technologies within the crucial core of the NEV sector.

Investment & Innovation Drive Industry Leadership

BYD’s commitment to R&D is unwavering. For 13 out of the 14 years spanning 2011 to 2024, the company’s R&D expenditure exceeded its annual net profit. Currently, BYD boasts a technical R&D team of over 120,000 employees, filing an average of 45 patents daily and securing 20 patent grants per day worldwide.

This intense focus on R&D has equipped BYD with breakthroughs in hybrid technology and fundamental electric vehicle components such as batteries, motors, and electronic controls (the “three-electrics”). Notable achievements include the ultra-safe Blade Battery and Cell-to-Body (CTB) technology, the fifth-generation DM hybrid technology achieving fuel consumption as low as 2.6L per 100km, the megawatt charging technology capable of adding 400km of range in just 5 minutes, and a 30,000 RPM high-speed motor, the fastest mass-produced EV motor on the market.

These inventions have set new benchmarks for product innovation and exploration, leading to new directions in electric vehicle development. As early as 2008, BYD launched the F3DM, the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid vehicle. In 2010, it introduced the e6, China’s first mass-produced pure electric car. With robust research and development capabilities, BYD remains at the forefront of NEV advancement.

This vast technological reservoir and powerful R&D engine fuel BYD’s consistent sales growth. In the first half of 2025, BYD’s car sales continued their upward trajectory: Between January and June, BYD’s domestic sales exceeded 2.113 million units, an increase of 31.5% year-on-year. Overseas sales during the same period reached 472,000 units, skyrocketing 128.5% year-on-year. The company also secured the global NEV sales crown.

The rise of the Chinese NEV industry hinges on the accomplishments of companies like BYD. In the global competition for NEV technologies, Chinese automakers continue to extend their global influence and write a new chapter in the history of electric vehicles.