BYD Begins Building Electric Cars In Brazil, Aiming For Big Growth

(MENAFN- The Rio Times) BYD, the world's biggest electric car maker, has started making electric and hybrid cars in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. The company invested 5.5 billion reais (about $1 billion) in a new factory built on land that once belonged to Ford.

BYD says this is its first big passenger car plant outside China. The factory opened on July 1, 2025. It has 26 warehouses and a test track. BYD plans to make 150,000 cars a year at first.

By 2026, it wants to double that to 300,000 cars. The company expects to create up to 20,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly. Already, 1,000 people have been hired, and 3,000 more jobs are open.

The first cars made in Brazil are the Dolphin Mini, Song Pro, and King models. BYD puts these cars together from big parts shipped in from China. This lets the company start working fast while it builds up local suppliers.

BYD has already spent 1.4 billion reais and wants to use more local parts to save money on imports. BYD has quickly become a leader in Brazil's electric car market. Since 2021, it has sold over 130,000 cars in the country.



In early 2025, BYD sold more than 20,000 cars, making it the top seller of electric vehicles in Brazil. In May 2025, BYD had a 9.7% share of all car sales in the country.

The factory's location in Bahia is important. The area already has many auto suppliers and a good port for shipping. BYD's plans also include making electric bus and truck parts and working with battery materials.

Brazil's government has raised taxes on imported electric cars to encourage companies to build cars locally. This move pushed BYD to speed up its investment and hiring. The company says it is training local workers to build up skills and share new technology.

BYD's new plant takes over a site that lost thousands of jobs when Ford left in 2021. Now, the area has a chance to become a center for electric vehicles.

BYD's focus on both electric and hybrid cars fits Brazil's use of ethanol fuel, which is common in the country. This project also brings Brazil and China closer together in business and could help Brazil lead in electric cars in Latin America.

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