BYD: The Chinese Carmaker Surpassing Tesla and Charting New Roads to Success

BYD's Global Expansion

BYD, the Chinese carmaker backed by Warren Buffett, has recently achieved a major milestone. It has surpassed Tesla as the world's largest seller of electric vehicles (EVs), marking a significant breakthrough in the automotive industry. This achievement has solidified BYD's position in its home market, and now the company is gearing up for a global expansion to maintain its momentum and establish itself as a household name worldwide.

Electric cars waiting to be loaded onto "BYD Explorer No. 1," a shipping carrier vessel intended to export BYD vehicles, at Yantai port in eastern China's Shandong province in January.

More than 5,000 electric vehicles were recently loaded onto a giant shipping carrier in China and sent to ports in Europe. The cars come from BYD, the Chinese carmaker that has enlisted the massive vessel, dubbed 'BYD Explorer No. 1,' to ferry its exports from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen to Germany and the Netherlands on its maiden voyage. This visual example signifies the growing heft of BYD, which now needs to navigate new roads to maintain its momentum after conquering its home market.

To achieve this, BYD is focusing on two countries crucial to its global expansion: Hungary and Mexico. These countries, while not vast car markets themselves, could serve as gateways to Europe and North America, bolstering BYD's quest to become a global household name. BYD has already made inroads in Hungary, pledging to open a factory in the country, and it is considering setting up shop in Mexico to expand its manufacturing footprint.

Wang Chuanfu, chairman and chief executive officer at BYD Co., during an event at the company's dealership in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

Expansion in Hungary and Mexico

Hungary and Mexico have emerged as strategic locations for BYD's expansion, providing access to European and North American markets. BYD's investment in Hungary, with the opening of a production plant for passenger cars, is one of the largest in the country's history. This move is expected to create thousands of jobs and provide free trade access for BYD's passenger vehicles to Hungary and 26 other members of the European Union.

A view shows model BYD ATTO 3 of BYD, a Chinese automobile manufacturer, displayed during an event a day ahead of the official opening of the 2023 Munich Auto Show IAA Mobility, in Munich, Germany, September 4, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Simon

Similarly, BYD is considering setting up a plant in Mexico, aiming to capitalize on the benefits of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the country's proximity to the North American market. The trade deal stipulates that 75% of each passenger vehicle must be made in North America to avoid tariffs, making Mexico an attractive base for Chinese automakers like BYD.

A BYD electric vehicle, operated by Vemo taxi, in Mexico City in November.

BYD's Global Footprint and Future Prospects

BYD's global footprint now extends to more than 70 countries, reflecting the company's rapid expansion in overseas markets. With aggressive growth in the exports of its vehicles, BYD has surged ahead in the automotive industry, positioning China as the world's number one car exporter in 2023. However, as BYD continues to grow overseas, it is adopting a more localized approach by building factories near its key markets to win favor with governments and consumers.