BYD plans to launch three electric cars in Pakistan

KARACHI: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD Co. is planning to establish a manufacturing facility in Karachi in collaboration with a local partner, as part of its strategy to penetrate Pakistan’s rapidly growing EV market.

The company is set to unveil three of its models, including an SUV and a sedan, at a brand launch event on Saturday. These models will mark BYD’s official entry into the Pakistani market.

This development was reported by Bloomberg, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter. The source also indicated that BYD intends to expand its offerings in Pakistan with both battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) in the future.

A spokesperson for BYD confirmed the company’s plans to enter the Pakistani market with BEVs and PHEVs but declined to provide further details regarding the potential investment in a local factory.

Pakistan, the world’s fifth-largest nation by population, has seen increased interest from Chinese automotive companies in recent years.

Major players such as Great Wall Motor Co., SAIC Motor Corp., and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. have already established a presence, competing with longstanding Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda. However, EV sales in Pakistan remain a small fraction of total automobile sales.

BYD has partnered with Mega Conglomerate Pvt., one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, in a joint venture that extends beyond the typical dealership model. The joint venture will be operated by Mega Motors, a subsidiary of Hub Power Co., Pakistan’s largest independent electricity producer.

The planned factory will be situated near Port Qasim in Karachi, an area already home to assembly plants for other automotive companies, including Toyota, Suzuki, and Kia.

The factory is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, although specific details of the plant are still being finalised, according to the source.

In preparation for its market launch, BYD plans to open showrooms in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, with sales expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

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