BYD Sells Record Half a Million Plug-In Cars in Blowout Month

BYD Co. kicked off the final quarter of the year with record monthly sales, continuing its strong performance in what is typically a peak season for auto purchases in China.

The manufacturer’s global passenger-car sales jumped 66% to a record 500,526 units in October, it said Friday. While BYD reached the half-million milestone earlier than expected, Western manufacturers including Volkswagen AG are struggling in the world’s biggest auto market.

Demand for BYD’s plug-in hybrids was strongest, reaching 310,912 deliveries, with the remainder fully electric models. Some of the company’s newer hybrids come with upgraded powertrains that allow for more than ...