BYD showcases the Seal sedan at the 2023 Shanghai auto show in April. [PHOTO by CAO YINGYING/CHINA DAILY]
Chinese NEV maker BYD said on Monday that it is assessing the feasibility of building a passenger vehicle plant in Europe, adding that it is currently looking for an appropriate location for such a facility.
The comment came amid reports that the Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based carmaker is in talks with the French authorities to establish a manufacturing facility in the country.
BYD is speeding up its efforts to explore international markets as its NEV models gain popularity overseas.
In Europe, German car rental company Sixt inked a deal in October to purchase 100,000 electric vehicles from BYD by 2028.
Earlier this year, BYD started construction on its plant in Thailand, which is the carmaker’s first overseas facility for passenger vehicles.
Located in the coastal province of Rayong, the plant is scheduled to see vehicles roll out in 2024, with an annual capacity of 150,000 units.
It will serve as a hub for BYD’s NEV production and sales in Thailand and neighboring member countries of ASEAN.
As China’s best-selling NEV maker, BYD delivered 762,371 vehicles in the first four months this year, up 91.83 percent year-on-year.