First Brazil-made BYD car rolls off assembly line

Jeronimo Rodrigues, governor of Bahia state, gives a speech at BYD's plant in Brazil that starts production on July 1, 2025. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

Chinese NEV manufacturer BYD rolled out its first Brazil-made passenger vehicle from its factory in Bahia state on Tuesday, marking a new milestone in its global expansion.

"From breaking ground to the first car rolling off the production line, it has only taken us 15 months. This achievement heralds a new chapter for BYD and sustainable transportation in Latin America," said BYD Executive Vice-President Stella Li.

With a total investment of 5.5 billion reais ($1 billion), BYD's production base in Brazil manufactures pure electric and plug-in hybrid models, with a planned annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.

The factory, located in the coastal city of Camacari, benefits from a well-established auto supply chain and mature port logistics infrastructure. It is expected to create 20,000 job opportunities.

Jeronimo Rodrigues, governor of Bahia state, praised the completion of the BYD factory as a symbol of industrial development and a new chapter in Brazil-China cooperation.

He said Brazil is ready to embrace a greener, more innovative future, driving the local economy, employment, and technological transformation.

Since BYD introduced its passenger NEVs to the Brazilian market in 2021, the company has sold 130,000 units cumulatively in the country.

In the first quarter of 2025, sales in Brazil exceeded 20,000 units, which put it in the top spot of local NEV sales. In May, BYD jumped to the fourth place in the Brazilian auto brand retail sales ranking, securing a 9.7 percent market share.

So far, BYD have entered the markets of more than 110 countries and regions worldwide. In the first half of 2025, its overseas sales exceeded 470,000 vehicles, jumping 132 percent year-on-year. It is projected that the full-year overseas sales will surpass 800,000 vehicles in 2025.