BYD will start assembling cars at its new plant in Hungary in the fourth quarter of this year, reports Reutersciting a company executive. Meanwhile, the Chinese automaker has paused work on a plant in Turkey while it focuses on production in Europe.
“Hungary is the number one priority right now,” Executive Vice President Stella Li told Reuters at the company’s UK headquarters in west London. “The second priority will be to focus on finding a second (production) facility in Europe.”
BYD’s sales in Europe grew 270% last year to almost 188,000 vehicles. European sales at the world’s largest electric vehicle maker rose 144% year to date through May this year to over 100,000 units. Building EVs in Europe would help BYD avoid European Union tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars.