BMW vs BYD: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
BMW reported ~$150.8B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$8.2B of net income. BYD reported ~$111.8B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$4.5B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
BMW
BMW's financial story has turned from peak to reset in three years. Revenue reached ~$176 billion (EUR155.5 billion) in 2023 with a 9.8% automotive EBIT margin, then fell to ~$161 billion (EUR142.4 billion) in 2024 and ~$151 billion (EUR133.5 billion) in 2025 as China pricing, tariffs and currency weighed. Group profit before tax still stayed above ~$11.3 billion (EUR10 billion) in 2025 (~$11.6 billion (EUR10.236 billion), 7.7% margin), helped by ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion) of cost cuts and a stable Financial Services business. 2026 is weaker: H1 revenue fell 8.0% to ~$70.4 billion (EUR62.3 billion), Group EBT dropped 29.4% to ~$4.52 billion (EUR4.0 billion), and BMW now guides to a 1-3% automotive EBIT margin and automotive free cash flow above ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion). Shareholder returns continue through a EUR4.40 dividend for 2025 and a ~$2.26 billion (EUR2 billion) buyback due to finish by November 2026.
BYD
BYD's revenue grew more than fivefold in five years, from ~$21.8 billion (CN¥156.6 billion) in 2020 to ~$112 billion (CN¥803.96 billion) in 2025, as its new energy vehicle sales rose to 4.6 million units. Profit peaked in 2024 at about $5.59 billion (CN¥40.2 billion) and fell 19% in 2025 to ~$4.53 billion (CN¥32.62 billion) attributable to shareholders, BYD's first annual decline in four years, which the company linked to product mix changes and a lower gross margin. Gross margin slipped from 19.1% in 2024 to 17.5% in 2025. The first half of 2026 brought revenue of ~$47.9 billion (CN¥344.8 billion) (down 7.1%) and net profit of ~$1.71 billion (CN¥12.3 billion) (down 20.5%), although second-quarter profit rose year on year for the first time in five quarters on record exports. Overseas revenue of ~$25.2 billion (CN¥181.3 billion) overtook revenue from China for the first time.
Revenue and profit by year
BMW
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$150.8B | ~$8.2B | 5.5% | -6.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$160.9B | ~$8.2B | 5.1% | -8.4% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$175.7B | ~$12.8B | 7.3% | +9.0% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$161.1B | ~$20.3B | 12.6% | +28.2% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$125.7B | ~$14B | 11.1% | — | Source |
BYD
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$111.8B | ~$4.5B | 4.0% | +3.5% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$108B | ~$5.6B | 5.2% | +29.0% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$83.7B | ~$4.2B | 5.0% | +42.0% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$58.9B | ~$2.3B | 3.9% | +96.2% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$30B | ~$420.6M | 1.4% | +38.0% | Source |
| FY2020 | ~$21.8B | ~$588M | 2.7% | +22.6% | Source |
| FY2019 | ~$17.8B | ~$223.8M | 1.3% | -1.8% | Source |
| FY2018 | ~$18.1B | ~$386.4M | 2.1% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
BMW
- Automotive
~$133B (EUR117.6B) segment revenue (2025)
Sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars, parts and services; the segment's EBIT margin was 5.3% in 2025.
- Financial Services
~$45B (EUR39.8B) segment revenue (2025)
Leasing, retail loans, dealer financing and insurance; new business volume was ~$74.4B (EUR65.8B) in 2025.
- Motorcycles
~$3.5B (EUR3.1B) segment revenue (2025)
BMW Motorrad bikes, parts and gear; segment EBIT margin was 5.7% in 2025.
BYD
- Automobiles and related products~81%
Sales of BYD, Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang passenger cars, buses and trucks, plus related products such as batteries and energy storage. The segment produced ~$90.2 billion (CN¥648.6 billion) in FY2025 and ~$38.3 billion (CN¥275.3 billion) (79.9% of revenue) in the first half of 2026.
- Mobile handset components and assembly~19%
Contract manufacturing and assembly of phones, tablets, smart car components and other devices, mainly through BYD Electronic. The segment produced ~$21.6 billion (CN¥155.2 billion) in FY2025, and electronics revenue rose 1.0% to ~$9.65 billion (CN¥69.4 billion) in the first half of 2026.
Business model and strategy
BMW
How it makes money
BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. In 2025 the Automotive segment (BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce) generated ~$133 billion (EUR117.6 billion) of revenue, Financial Services ~$45 billion (EUR39.8 billion) and Motorcycles ~$3.5 billion (EUR3.1 billion) before intra-group eliminations.
Growth strategy
Under CEO Milan Nedeljković, BMW's growth plan is narrower and more regional. The group will cut variants (the 2 Series Active Tourer gets no successor), add top-end models such as the first BMW ALPINA car in 2027 and a US-focused SAV above the X7, and launch a compact Neue Klasse EV for Europe in 2028.
Competitive advantage
BMW's advantage rests on brand depth, engineering credibility and a flexible production network. Customers still pay for BMW driving dynamics, M performance models and Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, which supports pricing even when volumes are flat.
BYD
How it makes money
BYD earns most of its revenue by designing, building and selling passenger cars under the BYD (Dynasty and Ocean series), Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang brands, along with buses, trucks, batteries and energy storage systems. Its automobiles and related products segment produced ~$90.2 billion (CN¥648.6 billion) in FY2025, about 81% of group revenue.
Growth strategy
BYD's growth plan has three parts. First, build locally abroad: plants in Thailand, Uzbekistan and Camaçari, Brazil are producing cars, Hungary is due to start series production in the fourth quarter of 2026, and a Turkish plant was paused in June 2026 while BYD concentrates on Europe. Second, move upmarket through Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang, which sell at higher prices than core BYD models.
Competitive advantage
BYD's advantage is cost control from owning its supply chain. It makes its own LFP Blade battery cells, motors, electronic controls and power chips, so it can sell a Seagull hatchback from around CN¥70,000 in China and still run a profitable car business, and it can put new technology such as the second-generation Blade Battery and FLASH charging into many models at once.
Questions about BMW vs BYD
Which company has higher revenue — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or BYD Company Ltd?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG reported ~$150.8B (FY2025), while BYD Company Ltd reported ~$111.8B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is the larger business, with BYD Company Ltd reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG vs BYD Company Ltd?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's market capitalisation stands at $39.8B, while BYD Company Ltd's is $113.4B. BYD Company Ltd carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG.
Which is more financially efficient — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or BYD Company Ltd?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG generates $976k / employee in revenue per employee, while BYD Company Ltd generates $123k / employee. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and BYD Company Ltd make money?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and BYD Company Ltd generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG: BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. BYD Company Ltd: BYD earns most of its revenue by designing, building and selling passenger cars under the BYD (Dynasty and Ocean series), Denza, Fangchengbao and Yangwang brands, along with buses, trucks, batteries and energy storage systems.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or BYD Company Ltd?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG trades at 0.3x P/S and BYD Company Ltd at 1.0x P/S. BYD Company Ltd commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Bayerische Motoren Werke AG bigger than BYD Company Ltd?
By last reported revenue, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (~$150.8B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to BYD Company Ltd (~$111.8B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the BMW vs BYD overview