acf domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/ecg/ecgassociationdev/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121Automotive News Europe — 2026-06-22
Automotive Industry
BYD is accelerating its global expansion, targeting Europe as a key stepping stone in its ambition to become the world’s largest automaker within five years.
The Chinese company has launched new vehicles for European markets as well as announced a major drive to build a sprawling fast-charging network across the continent. It also plans a second manufacturing facility in addition to its new Hungary plant, possibly in southern Europe.
As the European Commission seeks to get tougher on Chinese imports, BYD is sending a clear message that it intends to build a long-term presence in Europe through local manufacturing, an expanding dealer network and a product lineup tailored to European consumers.
“Our strategic goal is to be perceived as a European manufacturer in five years from now,” Europe Vice President Lars Bialkowski said at the launch of the Dolphin G DMi plug-in hybrid in Berlin.
Bialkowski said BYD is discussing options for additional European production as the company seeks to deepen its local presence through manufacturing, employment and regional supply chains.
BYD operates in 37 European markets and expects to expand to 40 by the end of the year. In Germany, the automaker aims to grow its sales network to 40 locations this year and eventually establish about 400 sales and service points nationwide.
Dolphin G plug-in hybrid to compete in Europe’s small-car segment
In Europe, BYD is rolling out products aimed at both the premium and mass-market segments.
The company recently introduced the Z9 GT from its Denza luxury subbrand, targeting buyers of high-end models from Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The Dolphin G DMi plug-in hybrid, the first BYD designed and developed for Europe, is open for orders with a starting price of €28,990 in Germany. The hatchback will compete in Europe’s small-car segment, which accounts for roughly one-third of vehicle sales in the region, joining BYD’s Atto 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid small SUV.
BYD designed the Dolphin G as a plug-in hybrid because many European consumers are not ready to transition to battery-electric vehicles, company executives said. While demand for BEVs continues to grow, concerns about charging infrastructure, battery range and affordability remain barriers for some buyers.
Rather than viewing plug-in hybrids as a transitional technology on the way to fully electric vehicles, BYD sees them as an important tool for attracting customers who want the benefits of electrified driving without sacrificing range or convenience.
“We are not asking our customers to make a radical change,” Fabian Ulbrich, head of product for BYD Germany, said during the Dolphin G launch in Berlin.
The Dolphin G version has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine combined with an electric motor and will be offered with two battery sizes. The top variant with an 18.3 kilowatt-hour battery has a 105-km (65-mile) full-electric range. The 7.42 kWh version has a 40-km electric range.
Hungary factory starts production this year
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said June 10 that the automaker will start building cars at its new plant in Szeged, Hungary, in the fourth quarter.
Li added that the automaker has paused work on a plant in Turkey while it focuses on production in Europe. Li said the company is searching for a second European assembly plant and would prefer to acquire a factory in southern Europe rather than build one from scratch. Li did not disclose which plants BYD could buy.
Major European automakers including Volkswagen and Stellantis have signaled they could sell plants or partner with Chinese manufacturers as they face production overcapacity.
Spain is among the locations BYD is considering for a new plant, Li told Reuters.
BYD disputes ‘forced labor’ allegations
BYD faces scrutiny over labor practices at its factory in Szeged. In a report published in March, labor-rights group China Labor Watch alleged that Chinese migrant workers employed by contractors at the site faced excessive working hours, opaque wage practices, recruitment-related debt and other conditions that the organization said could be associated with forced labor.
BYD disputes any suggestion that it is operating outside local regulations in Europe. Asked about the allegations, Bialkowski said the company complies with all applicable laws and regulations in the countries where it operates.
“We respect all local laws and requirements, just as any competitor operating in Europe should,” Bialkowski told Automotive News Europe when asked about the report.
Bruising price war at home fuels overseas push
The European expansion comes as China’s auto market remains mired in a bruising price war that has eroded profitability across much of the industry and is helping to fuel an increasingly aggressive push overseas by Chinese automakers.
Passenger-vehicle sales fell for an eighth consecutive month in May, according to the China Passenger Car Association, extending a downturn that has forced automakers to cut prices and fight harder for market share.
BYD reported its first annual profit decline in four years in 2025, and overseas growth has become an increasingly important driver for the automaker.
BYD’s sales in Europe rose 270 percent in 2025 to nearly 188,000 vehicles and were up 144 percent through May, according to company figures cited by Reuters.
BYD must maintain growth and profitability in China while convincing European consumers, regulators and policymakers that it is more than simply another Chinese exporter.