65% of global media coverage positioned BYD as market leader in 2025: CARMA Study
Singapore, 12 November 2025 – 65% of global media coverage framed BYD as a market leader, according to CARMA’s BYD vs the World: A Media Intelligence Perspective on a Rising Superbrand study.
80% of corporate and financial stories were positive, with analysts praising BYD’s strategic partnerships and innovation pipeline.
The study provided a detailed view of how global media and social storytelling shaped BYD’s reputation between 1 January 2024 and 15 August 2025.
Once considered an underdog, BYD used its resilience to build credibility. CEO Wang Chuanfu, often described as a self-made engineer who rose from rural China, was a central figure in that narrative.
Mentions of Wang were a consistent source of positive sentiment in global media. Coverage featuring Wang was markedly more positive, with 89% of stories portraying him favourably compared with 75% for overall BYD coverage.
The company appeared frequently alongside Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW, and Ford, reflecting its position in global industry comparisons.
Elon Musk’s 2011 dismissal of BYD continued to be cited in coverage, fuelling a “revenge arc” narrative that peaked in 2024 when BYD overtook Tesla in global EV sales.
BYD’s social presence and engagement trends
BYD’s social channels focused on design, quality, and innovation. Conversations on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube highlighted style and aspiration over cost and safety, reflecting a shift toward lifestyle positioning.
Autonomous driving remained a secondary theme in BYD’s content strategy, receiving limited emphasis compared with design and performance.
Analysing BYD’s global editorial narratives
BYD’s international expansion was the most covered theme across 2024–25, accounting for 27% of all media mentions.
Coverage of R&D, innovation, and technology followed at 20%, highlighting continued global interest in the company’s technical progress.
Mentions of new facilities and product launches in Europe and Latin America reinforced BYD’s positioning as a globally scaled manufacturer rather than a China-centric brand.
CARMA Managing Director, Andrew Nicholls, commented, “BYD has generated predominantly positive coverage, and much of that stems from the personal story of its CEO, Wang Chuanfu.
This aligns closely with the trend of leadership visibility driving brand favourability in highly competitive markets. BYD’s ability to surpass Tesla in a crowded EV market has amplified that connection.”
About the Driving Change series
The Driving Change series provides a detailed look at how Chinese car brands are reshaping the global automotive industry.
The first study in the series focused on market research. It provided an analysis of audience perception of Chinese EV brand attributes and awareness across different markets.
The second study explored online media coverage trends of the EV sector, uncovering how Chinese automakers are framed in the media.
This third and latest study is a case study on BYD. CARMA analysed global positioning, reputation drivers and communications effectiveness shaping the company’s public profile.
Access all three studies in the series here: https://carma.com/driving-change-automotive-series/
Methodology
CARMA analysed 6,518 articles published across 500 online outlets in 56 markets, alongside BYD’s social content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Using CARMA’s proprietary AI-powered methodology, it assessed tone, themes and messaging consistency.
Ends
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About CARMA
CARMA is a global monitoring and research company. We help companies analyse earned media intelligence, social listening, and public opinion. We turn data into strategic insight through a combination of our proprietary technology and expert consulting.
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