BYD says it expects to build in Europe all the electric vehicles it needs for the region within two to three years. Local production would help it avoid EU duties on China-made EVs and reduce shipping costs and delivery times. Its factory in Hungary is nearing completion and is due to begin production this year; the company also plans to start manufacturing in Turkey.
The shift comes as BYD’s European sales grow. In the first eight months of the year, it registered 234,099 vehicles in Europe, up 144.1% year on year, leaving it 10,839 units behind Ford, according to ACEA figures cited in the article. BYD is also broadening its lineup beyond battery-electric cars: it plans to introduce three or four more plug-in hybrids over the next six months and expects them to outsell fully electric models in Europe within one to two years.
BYD’s European ambitions also extend to its luxury brand, Yangwang, which is scheduled to arrive in 2027. The company’s strategy combines local manufacturing, a larger plug-in hybrid offering and an expansion into a higher-end market segment.