KARACHI (Kashmir English): Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD is expected to roll out its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August next year to capture rising demand for electric and plug-in hybrid four-wheelers in the region, a company executive has said.
Recognized as the world’s top EV maker, BYD, has been expanding rapidly outside its home market, where it is facing a tough competition in terms of prices.
The Pakistan plant is expected to meet the rising demand from emerging markets and allow the company to take advantage of incentives being offered by the Pakistani government.
BYD EV plant
The EV plant has been under construction near Karachi since April in a partnership between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Hub Power, said Danish Khaliq, Vice President of Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan.
The plant would initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units a year on a double shift, he said.
He, however, did not explain when the plant would begin mass production.
Initially, the plant will start assembling imported parts, with some local production of non-electric components, Khaliq said, adding it would initially produce vehicles for the domestic market.
He was optimistic about the potential to export to right-hand drive countries in the region depending on freight costs and business economics.
According to the official, BYD started delivering imported EVs in Pakistan in March. He, however, didn’t give an exact sales number but said sales of a few hundred cars had exceeded internal targets by 30%.
He hoped that the market size of EVs and plug-in hybrid cars in Pakistan would grow three to four times in 2025 from around 1,000 total units in 2024.
