Less than a fortnight after it announced that it was expanding into the Japanese market, Chinese electric automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) has announced a move to enter into Germany and Sweden through local dealership Hedin Mobility Group.
BYD announced last month that it was entering the Japanese passenger vehicle market with three electric models – the BYD Atto 3, the BYD Dolphin, and the BYD Seal.
The BYD Atto 3 is expected to go on sale in January of 2023, while the Dolphin and Seal will respectively be available in the middle and second half of 2023.
The news comes as at least 3,000 Australian customers are readying to receive their vehicles in coming months, and as the first right-hand drive Atto 3 went on show in Brisbane on Tuesday.
“Over the years, BYD has been deeply engaged in the Japanese market and has accumulated a good market and brand foundation through its pure electric buses, energy storage systems, pure electric forklifts and other businesses,” said Wang Chuanfu, BYD’s chairman and president regarding the new expansion in a statement.
“Today, with the support and expectation of consumers, BYD officially hits the new energy passenger vehicle market in Japan.”
Now, nearly two weeks later, it has been announced that BYD will continue its expansion outside of China, this time into two of Europe’s largest car markets, Germany and Sweden.
Hedin Mobility Group, one of Europe’s largest privately owned dealership groups, announced on Monday that it had been appointed “Dealer+” for BYD in Germany and Sweden and would begin to distribute and sell BYD electric passenger vehicles.
German and Swedish customers will be able to visit BYD stores in selected major cities in both countries, the first of which is expected to be opened in Stockholm, Sweden, in October.
There is currently no information on which models will be available or future BYD dealership locations, but more information is expected to be announced in September. A customer website for each market (www.bydauto.de and www.bydauto.se respectively) will launch later this month.
“We are proud to start this partnership with BYD and for the opportunity to represent such a pioneering brand,” said Anders Hedin, owner and CEO of Hedin Mobility Group (PDF).
“This underscores Hedin Mobility Group’s aspirations to be a leading mobility provider and a contributing force in the electrification of the European car fleet. Growing our distribution business is central to our strategic plans moving forward.”
BYD’s burgeoning global expansion will go a long way towards helping the company achieve its goal of becoming the second carmaker in the world to sell more than 1 million EVs in a year, with a goal announced late last year of reaching “new energy vehicle” sales of 1.2 million in 2022.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.