Industry dynamics

BYD plans to build EV plant in Pakistan, report says

Publishtime:2019/08/16 Views:13

BYD will reveal three models it plans to sell in Pakistan at a brand launch on Saturday. Its EV plant in Karachi will be completed in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg.

BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) will reportedly build an electric vehicle (EV) plant in Pakistan to further expand into the international auto market.

BYD plans to build a plant in Karachi with a local partner to gain a foothold in Pakistan's growing EV market, Bloomberg said in a report yesterday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker will reveal three models it plans to sell in Pakistan, including an SUV and a sedan, at a brand launch on Saturday, the person said.

BYD plans to launch more models, including battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models, to the local market at a later date, according to the report.

The company will set up showrooms in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and start sales in the fourth quarter of this year, the source said.

A BYD spokesperson confirmed that the company plans to enter the Pakistani market with BEV and PHEV models, but declined to comment on plans for a local plant, the report said.

The plant will be located near Karachi's Port Qasim, an area that is home to assembly plants for other car companies such as Toyota, Suzuki and Kia's local subsidiaries, according to Bloomberg.

It will be completed in the first half of 2026 and exact details of the plant are still under discussion, the person said.

BYD has partnered with Mega Conglomerate Pvt, one of Pakistan's largest business conglomerates, in a deal that goes beyond the usual dealership model in most markets, Bloomberg cited the person as saying.

The NEV maker will form a joint venture with Mega Motors, a subsidiary of Hub Power, Pakistan's largest independent power producer, according to the report.

Pakistan, the world's fifth most populous country, has seen Chinese companies including Great Wall Motor, SAIC and Changan Automobile enter the local market in recent years. EV sales in Pakistan remain marginal compared to total vehicle sales, the Bloomberg report noted.

BYD already has an electric bus business in Pakistan, introducing its first all-electric bus in April 2021 to the country.

In late June, Hub Power said BYD plans to enter Pakistan in partnership with its unit to sell EVs in the country.

JP Morgan expects BYD to reach 6 million global deliveries by 2026