BYD Auto (China) will build its first European industrial complex in Germany, France or Spain, Automotive News Europe reporting quoting a number of media sources. The final destination will most likely be chosen before the end of the current year, and car production at the new location is expected to start in 2025.
According to Les Echos, BYD is conducting talks with the government of France right now. Media in China say that Germany and Spain are also on the list of possible destinations, while the UK is not – apparently due to Brexit and its economic aftermath.
BYD VP Stella Li announced the company’s plans to expand to the Old World markets with a new industrial complex in February this year. She said that the company was studying the technological and financial viability of the project and had not decided on a specific country yet. She added that BYD would rather build a new factory from scratch than buy and retrofit an existing one.
The Chinese automaker invaded the car market of Europe in 2022 with three EVs – crossover SUVs named Atto 3 and Tang and a large sedan named Han. A compact hatchback called Dolphin is set to join their company in June this year, followed by a sedan called Seal in September.
The brand is officially offering its cars in Germany, France, the UK and the Scandinavian countries. An electric bus production complex owned by BYD has been active in Hungary since 2016.