Are BYD Cars Sold in the US? No, Here’s Why (2026 Update)

BYD, short for “Build Your Dreams,” sells electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in many countries, but the US is a major market where it does not sell passenger cars. This guide explains why, what BYD does sell in the US, and what you can check yourself if the rules change. Every legal and trade fact below is tied to an official source or major news report and carries an “as of” date.

BYD Company Overview

BYD was founded in 1995 as a battery maker and began making cars in 2003. It still builds many of its own EV components in-house, including batteries, which is the main reason it is better known as an EV and battery company than as a traditional car brand.

Outside the US, BYD sells cars across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, and its buses run in transit fleets in many cities. Reports in early 2026 put its overseas sales target at 1.3 million vehicles, with a later report saying it was raised to 1.5 million. None of those figures include a US passenger-car plan.

Why Can’t You Buy a BYD Car in the US?

Two separate federal actions stand between BYD passenger cars and US showrooms. They work differently, so it helps to keep them apart.

Barrier 1: The 100% tariff on Chinese EVs

The US Trade Representative finalized changes to the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods on September 13, 2024. Chinese electric vehicles went to a 100% rate, with the increases taking effect on September 27, 2024 according to law-firm summaries of the notice. The same action set a 25% rate on lithium-ion EV batteries for 2024. At a 100% rate, a car that sells at a normal price in China would roughly double in cost at the port, before any other duties that may apply.

Barrier 2: The connected-vehicle rule

On January 14, 2025, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security announced a final rule on connected vehicles (see the Commerce Department (BIS) announcement). It was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2025 and took effect March 17, 2025. According to BIS, the rule bars companies with a “sufficient nexus” to China or Russia from selling new connected vehicles in the US from model year 2027, even if the car is built in the US. It also restricts imports of the key software and hardware:

• Software (vehicle connectivity and automated driving): prohibited starting with model year 2027.
• Hardware (vehicle connectivity systems): prohibited starting with model year 2030, or January 1, 2029 for units without a model year.

A detail most articles miss: the rule as announced in January 2025 applies only to passenger vehicles under 10,001 pounds. BIS said it intended to issue a separate rulemaking for connected commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses. That is one reason BYD can keep building buses in California while its passenger cars stay out. We have not confirmed whether that commercial-vehicle rulemaking has since been published, so check BIS directly before relying on this point.

What BYD’s tariff lawsuit does and does not change

On January 26, 2026, several of BYD’s US subsidiaries sued the federal government in the US Court of International Trade, seeking refunds of duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs, according to Thomson Reuters and Jones Day summaries of the decision. Whether and how refunds will be paid was left open.

Here is the part that matters for car shoppers: the 100% rate on Chinese EVs described above was set under Section 301, a different law from IEEPA, and the connected-vehicle rule is a separate Commerce action. Neither was the subject of that ruling or of BYD’s suit as reported. So a tariff refund for BYD would not by itself put a BYD sedan or SUV in a US showroom.

BYD Vehicle Types and US Availability

Here is where each part of BYD’s vehicle business stands in the US, as of October 12, 2026. Details come from the sources named in each row; “per BYD” means BYD’s own published material.

BYD vehicle type	US availability (as of Oct 12, 2026)	Main rule or barrier
Passenger cars (sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, EV and plug-in hybrid)	Not sold new through US dealers	100% Section 301 tariff; connected-vehicle rule from model year 2027
Electric transit buses	Built in Lancaster, California and sold to US transit agencies (per BYD)	Rule as announced covers passenger vehicles under 10,001 lb; commercial-vehicle rulemaking announced as planned
Electric school buses	Announced orders built in Lancaster (per BYD)	Same commercial-vehicle note as above
Medium and heavy-duty electric trucks	R&D and assembly at the Lancaster site per news coverage; check BYD for current models	Not confirmed this session
Batteries and energy storage	US business includes energy storage, per Caixin reporting on the BYD lawsuit	Separate from the vehicle rules above

What BYD Actually Sells in the US Today

BYD is not absent from the US. It simply is not selling passenger cars here. Its actual US operations center on commercial vehicles and energy:

• Electric buses: BYD Coach & Bus operates a plant at 46147 BYD Boulevard in Lancaster, California. BYD says more than 750 union employees work at the Lancaster facility, and it markets its buses as Buy America compliant. Its bus lineup includes the K7M, K8M and K11M.
• Large orders: BYD reports that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation ordered 130 K7M buses, which BYD described as the largest single battery-electric bus order in US history at the time.
• Energy storage: BYD’s US subsidiaries named in the tariff lawsuit include BYD Energy, alongside BYD America, BYD Coach & Bus and BYD Motors, according to news reports of the filing.

No BYD sedans, SUVs or hatchbacks are sold new through US dealerships. For the full bus story, including where the buses run, see our guide to BYD electric buses sold in the US. For a broader look at Chinese-owned brands that do have a US presence, see what Chinese cars are sold in America.

Where Can You Actually Buy a BYD Car?

If you want to buy a BYD passenger car, you have to look outside the US. BYD sells in many countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, and it has been expanding into Mexico and Canada. Lineups, prices and dealer networks change quickly and differ by country, so use BYD’s official website for the specific country rather than a third-party list.

A history note that explains why many shoppers expect BYD to arrive soon: in January 2017, Reuters reported a BYD executive saying the company hoped to sell passenger EVs in the US in roughly two to three years, while adding that the plan could be adjusted. As of October 2026, nearly a decade later, that has not happened.

Can You Import a BYD Yourself?

Importing a car you bought abroad is a separate question from dealer sales, and it has its own federal requirements for safety and emissions compliance plus the tariff and connected-vehicle issues above. Do not buy a car overseas assuming you can register it in the US. Start with our guide to importing Chinese cars to the USA and confirm requirements with US Customs and Border Protection before you spend money. The related question of which Chinese-made models you can legally drive is covered in what Chinese cars can be used in the USA.

How to Check the Current Status Yourself

This is a fast-moving trade topic, and any article, including this one, goes out of date. These are the places where a change would show up first:

• BYD’s official US site and newsroom: a passenger-car launch would be announced by BYD itself.
• The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security: publishes the connected-vehicle rule and any updates, including the planned commercial-vehicle rulemaking.
• The US Trade Representative: publishes Section 301 tariff actions and rate changes.
• US Customs and Border Protection: publishes guidance on how duties apply at the port.

If a headline says BYD is “coming to the US,” look for a primary source from one of these four before believing it. For the wider picture of how tariffs and rules shape the market, see are Chinese-made cars sold in the USA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Purchase a BYD Car in the USA?

No. As of October 12, 2026, BYD does not sell new passenger cars through US dealerships. A 100% Section 301 tariff on Chinese-made EVs and the Commerce Department’s connected-vehicle rule are the two main barriers. BYD’s US business is built around electric buses and energy storage.

Is BYD Coming to the USA?

There is no announced date. BYD has not announced a US passenger-car launch, and the two federal barriers described above are still the rules a launch would have to work around. In 2017, Reuters reported a BYD executive saying a US passenger-car entry might come in roughly two to three years, and it did not happen. Treat any new timeline claim with caution until BYD or a federal agency confirms it.

Is BYD Better Than Tesla?

The two cannot be compared as products you can cross-shop in the US, because only Tesla sells passenger cars here. If you are shopping for an EV today, compare models that are actually available to you, using EPA range figures and window-sticker prices.

Can I Buy a Chinese EV in the USA?

Not from a Chinese-headquartered brand that sells under its own name, such as BYD. The Commerce rule uses a “sufficient nexus” test tied to China or Russia, so brands with Chinese ownership or content are judged case by case. For the brands you can actually find at US dealers, see our guide to what Chinese cars are sold in America.

Does BYD Sell Cars in Canada or Mexico?

BYD sells passenger vehicles in many countries outside China, and Mexico and Canada are markets it has been expanding into. Lineups, prices and dealer networks change often, so check BYD’s official Mexico and Canada websites for what is on sale in your area before you plan a purchase.

Conclusion

As of October 12, 2026, BYD does not sell new passenger cars in the US, and the 100% Section 301 tariff and the connected-vehicle rule are the reasons. BYD’s US presence is real but limited to electric buses built in California and its energy business. If you want a BYD car, you would need to look to other countries, and importing one yourself comes with its own rules. For up-to-date status, rely on BYD, Commerce, USTR and CBP rather than headlines.