BYD to localise electric car production in Europe by 2028

Chinese auto giant BYD has announced plans to fully localise production of European versions of its electric cars in Europe by 2028 in response to the EU's tariff policy.

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Speaking at the IAA Mobility 2025 motor show in Munich, company vice president Stella Li said that the plant in Hungary will be operational by the end of this year, while construction of a new site in Turkey will start in 2026.

Asked how long it would take BYD to produce all the electric cars needed to meet European demand, Li said: "Give us two to three years."

BYD is actively developing its sales and supplier network: the company is in talks with hundreds of European partners and intends to open more than 1,000 dealerships in 32 countries in the region by the end of 2025.

There are now 13 BYD models in Europe, compared to six two years ago. The latest addition is the Seal 06 DM-i station wagon with a combined range of 1,350 kilometres. At the same time, the company's strategy has changed: if earlier the focus was only on electric cars, now plug-in hybrids have become the main hits. In the next six months, 3-4 more new PHEVs will debut in Europe, and their sales, according to Lee's forecast, will soon surpass the sales of "pure" electric cars.

BYD is also set to bring its premium Yangwang brand to Europe in 2027.

In 2024, the company sold 4.2 million cars worldwide - ten times more than in 2019. Li noted that this is a normal adjustment after years of rapid growth.

Source: Reuters