BYD’s Hungary EV plant to start 2026, 300k capacity
BYD to launch European EV production in Hungary in 2026
BYD’s Hungary EV plant to start 2026, 300k capacity
BYD will start European EV production in Hungary in 2026, targeting up to 300,000 cars a year. Local assembly cuts import duties; first up: Dolphin Surf.
2025-12-14T00:55:22+03:00
2025-12-14T00:55:22+03:00
2025-12-14T00:55:22+03:00
BYD is gearing up for a broad push into Europe. In 2026, the brand will launch series production of electric cars at its first European plant, now under construction in Szeged, Hungary. Early pre-production cars are slated for the first quarter of 2026, with full-scale production to follow in the second quarter.The choice of Hungary stems from BYD’s existing footprint in the country: a European headquarters, an R&D center, and facilities for building electric buses and trucks. With the lines fully ramped, the plant is designed to produce up to 300,000 vehicles a year. The staged rollout — pilot builds first, volume soon after — hints at a tightly planned start.Local manufacturing will help the company avoid European import duties on cars shipped from China and reduce logistics costs, clearing the way for sharper pricing. The first model off the line will be the compact Dolphin Surf, followed by the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, and Seal U. Part of the lineup targets urban EVs, one of Europe’s most crowded and competitive segments, suggesting a bid for scale rather than a niche play.Assembling cars within the EU should also strengthen buyer confidence in the brand, especially in Germany, Spain, and Italy, where a vehicle’s origin still carries real weight.
BYD, Hungary EV plant, European EV production, Szeged, 2026 launch, Dolphin Surf, Atto 3, Seal, Seal U, Dolphin, 300,000 capacity, EU manufacturing, import duties
2025
Michael Powers
news
BYD to launch European EV production in Hungary in 2026
BYD will start European EV production in Hungary in 2026, targeting up to 300,000 cars a year. Local assembly cuts import duties; first up: Dolphin Surf.
Michael Powers, Editor
BYD is gearing up for a broad push into Europe. In 2026, the brand will launch series production of electric cars at its first European plant, now under construction in Szeged, Hungary. Early pre-production cars are slated for the first quarter of 2026, with full-scale production to follow in the second quarter.
The choice of Hungary stems from BYD’s existing footprint in the country: a European headquarters, an R&D center, and facilities for building electric buses and trucks. With the lines fully ramped, the plant is designed to produce up to 300,000 vehicles a year. The staged rollout — pilot builds first, volume soon after — hints at a tightly planned start.
Local manufacturing will help the company avoid European import duties on cars shipped from China and reduce logistics costs, clearing the way for sharper pricing. The first model off the line will be the compact Dolphin Surf, followed by the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, and Seal U. Part of the lineup targets urban EVs, one of Europe’s most crowded and competitive segments, suggesting a bid for scale rather than a niche play.
Assembling cars within the EU should also strengthen buyer confidence in the brand, especially in Germany, Spain, and Italy, where a vehicle’s origin still carries real weight.
