Chinese automaker BYD is setting its sights firmly on the European market, vowing to launch a new compact electric vehicle (EV) and introduce cutting-edge, super-fast charging technology to challenge established continental brands.
“You will see, starting from March or April, our registration numbers will jump” in Europe, according to company vice-president Stella Li, speaking to AFP in an interview at a Paris showroom. “This year, BYD sales in the whole of Europe will start increasing.”
The company has intensified its marketing efforts, notably by sponsoring the UEFA European Championship last year, and has significantly expanded its European showroom network. BYD plans to roll out its Seagull model, which will be rebranded as the Dolphin Surf in Europe, aiming it directly at competitors like the Renault 5 and Citroen C3 around mid-year, Li stated.
This week, the company unveiled a new charging system in China, claiming it can deliver around 470 kilometers (nearly 300 miles) of range after only a five-minute charge. This is four times faster than existing market leaders.
“It is really as fast as refuelling a petrol car,” Li said. “We are… preparing to bring this kind of cutting-edge technology to Europe in the next few years.”
BYD reported a doubling of its exports in the first two months of 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching 130,000 vehicles. In 2024, the company sold 4.2 million vehicles globally, positioning itself as the world’s sixth-largest car manufacturer.
The European Union has implemented a 17 percent tariff on Chinese EVs to offset Chinese state subsidies. However, Li insisted that these EU restrictions “will not change BYD’s plan because BYD is like a long-term player.”
EU regulators are also reportedly investigating BYD’s upcoming European factory in Hungary, where EV production is scheduled to commence later this year. “We will be very transparent, very open, working with anybody who wants to do an investigation,” Li affirmed.
