BYD's Hungarian factory releases its first models
- BYD's Hungarian assembly plant in Szeged has just rolled off its first models: the Dolphin Surf (A-segment) and the Atto 2 (B-segment). Initially designed for 150,000 vehicles per year, with the potential to increase to 300,000 vehicles per year by 2030, this plant is not only BYD's first European light vehicle manufacturing facility but also the first large-scale European plant for a Chinese automaker.
- BYD, which has become a global leader in battery electric vehicles, chose Hungary for its first European car assembly plant (the carmaker already has an electric bus factory in the country). This decision is part of an expansion strategy aimed at strengthening its presence in a European market undergoing a major energy transition, but which is also highly competitive and heavily regulated. It also allows BYD to avoid tariffs on electric vehicles imported into China and to reduce logistics costs by producing closer to the market.
- BYD sold 187,657 cars in Europe (30 countries: EU + UK + Switzerland + Norway) in 2025, compared to 60,004 in 2024, 17,398 in 2023, and 4,038 in 2022. Currently selling around ten models in Europe, BYD is experiencing strong growth on the continent, and local production will allow it to accelerate its development. As the factory ramps up production, BYD will assemble other models there. The opening of the BYD factory in Hungary represents a major strategic step for the carmaker and for the European automotive industry. By 2030, this facility could transform the electric vehicle landscape in Europe, strengthening competitiveness, innovation, and local production capacity. Hungary, for its part, will be able to establish itself as a key player in the electric mobility of the future.