BYD establishes UK R&D base as it expands in Europe

Recently, BYD announced significant plans to bolster its presence in Europe by establishing a research and development center in the UK. As part of this strategy, Stella Li, BYD's executive vice-president, confirmed that the UK is one of the company’s top five countries for development. This development follows BYD's recent efforts to localize operations as they expand their product offerings across the continent. The new R&D base will enable localized engineering efforts for future BYD models, joining a workforce of 120,000 employees globally. Although the expansion in the UK shows the company’s commitment to the European market, Stella Li clarified that there would not be a design base for vehicle styling in the UK. Instead, any design initiatives outside of China remain centered in California and potentially in other European locations in the future. Furthermore, this development comes alongside BYD's ongoing growth, having launched five models in the UK within the last two years, with plans to introduce an additional two models in the upcoming six months. Additionally, BYD is constructing a manufacturing facility in Hungary, expected to produce four to six models with an annual capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles. The plant's inauguration is anticipated for later this year. The company has also planned a second factory in Turkey, slated to commence operations in early 2026, showcasing BYD's aggressive expansion strategy in the region. Currently, BYD holds the position of the sixth largest car manufacturer globally and aims to surpass competitors such as Tesla in the electric vehicle market. The company is already making significant strides, having sold approximately 4.27 million cars last year, half of which were fully electric. This growth trajectory highlights BYD's ambitions to become a leading player in the global automotive and electric vehicle industry.