BYD says Europe will need three assembly plants long term

BYD special adviser for Europe Alfredo Altavilla said at a presentation in Turin on September 16 that the Chinese automaker will over the longer term need three vehicle assembly plants and one battery factory in Europe to hit its volume targets and comply with EU regulations. BYD is starting production at its first European plant in Szeged, Hungary and expects to decide on a second manufacturing site by the end of 2026, preferring to acquire and refurbish an existing facility rather than build one from scratch, with Spain and France among its favored locations. The localization push is BYD's answer to EU trade measures, which stack countervailing duties on top of a basic 10% tariff on cars built in China.