BYD says its Camaçari industrial complex in Bahia, Brazil, has completed construction of its welding and paint buildings and begun advanced operational testing. More than 1,100 employees have been hired for the new facilities and are currently in training. Construction continues on a stamping building, which will complete the factory infrastructure needed for more localized production, a target the company aims to reach by early 2027.
The company plans to recruit another 500 direct employees for welding, stamping and paint operations by the end of 2026. Its workforce at the site has grown from 1,000 within 60 days of opening to 3,000 six months later, then 5,500 after 250 days; it now stands at 9,000. BYD says 90% of employees are from Bahia, mostly Camaçari. It aims for at least 10,000 direct workers by the end of 2026, including through a third shift, while the fully operational project is expected to support up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Production began in October 2025 on one shift, with a second added in the first quarter of 2026. The plant currently builds the Dolphin Mini, King, Song Pro and Atto 2. Annual capacity is 150,000 vehicles, with plans to raise it to 300,000 and a longer-term goal of 600,000 for domestic sales and exports. BYD has invested R$5.5 billion in the 4.65-million-square-meter complex, its largest industrial site outside China.