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BYD ramps up showroom openings, targets production in Europe to offset slowdown in China

The Berkshire Hathaway-invested EV maker plans to open 2,000 dealerships by 2026 and produce all models for sale in Europe locally by 2028

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BYD executive vice-president Stella Li speaks at the IAA Mobility car show in Munich on Monday. Photo: EPA
Daniel Renin Shanghai
BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, is doubling down on its expansion in Europe, opening more showrooms and launching new models as its growth slows in China.

The Shenzhen-based company, which counts Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway as a minority shareholder, plans to operate 2,000 outlets across the continent in 2026, up from a projected 1,000 by the end of this year, according to Stella Li, an executive vice-president.

Speaking at the IAA Mobility car show in Munich on Monday, Li said BYD was in discussions with dozens of local car component manufacturers to set up a complete supply chain to support its growth in Europe.

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“We are investing in not only plants but also the supply chain,” she said, according to a video clip obtained by the Post. “Our goal is to build a local ecosystem for European production.”

BYD executive vice-president Stella L addresses a press conference at the IAA Mobility car show in Munich on Monday. Photo: dpa
BYD executive vice-president Stella L addresses a press conference at the IAA Mobility car show in Munich on Monday. Photo: dpa
BYD, controlled by billionaire Wang Chuanfu, delivered 258,182 cars outside mainland China in the second quarter of 2025, an increase of 144.7 per cent from a year earlier and up 25.3 per cent from the previous quarter, according to its interim earnings report published on August 29.
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Overseas sales accounted for 22.5 per cent of the total in the three months to June, compared with less than 10 per cent a year earlier.

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