Chinese car manufacturer BYD announced its ambitious plans to expand its presence in Europe, unveiling a new compact electric model and promising super-fast charging capabilities to compete with established European automakers.
“You will see, starting from March or April, our registration numbers will jump” in Europe, said Stella Li, BYD’s vice president, in an interview at a Paris showroom. “This year, BYD sales in the whole of Europe will start increasing.”
The company has already initiated significant advertising campaigns, including sponsoring last year’s European Football Championship, and has been rapidly opening new showrooms across the continent. BYD plans to launch its Seagull model, rebranded as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, to rival vehicles like the Renault 5 and Citroen C3, around mid-year, according to Li.
BYD also revealed a new charging system in China earlier this week, claiming it could provide drivers with 470 kilometers (nearly 300 miles) of range after just five minutes of charging—four times faster than the best systems available today.
“It is really as fast as refuelling a petrol car,” Li said, indicating that the company is “preparing to bring this kind of cutting-edge technology to Europe in the next few years.”
BYD reported that its exports doubled in the first two months of 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching 130,000 vehicles. In 2024, BYD sold 4.2 million vehicles worldwide, securing its place as the sixth-largest car manufacturer globally.
The European Union’s imposition of a 17-percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, a response to Chinese state subsidies, isn’t deterring BYD’s strategy. “EU restrictions will not change BYD’s plan because BYD is like a long-term player,” Li asserted.
Furthermore, EU authorities are reportedly investigating BYD’s first European factory, located in Hungary, where electric car production is scheduled to begin late this year. Li stated, “We will be very transparent, very open, working with anybody who wants to do an investigation.”
