Chinese electric vehicle (EV) titan BYD is set to launch its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August 2026. This strategic move aims to capitalize on the rapidly growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a company executive announced on Wednesday.
BYD, the world’s leading EV manufacturer, has been aggressively expanding its operations outside its home market, where it currently faces intense price competition. The establishment of a plant in Pakistan addresses the increasing demand from emerging markets and allows the company to leverage incentives provided by the government.
The plant, located near Karachi, has been under construction since April. It is a partnership between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of the utility Hub Power, Danish Khaliq, vice president of sales and strategy at BYD Pakistan, informed Reuters.
Khaliq stated that the plant would initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units annually on a double shift. However, he did not specify when the plant would reach full capacity or when mass production would commence.
Initially, the plant will focus on assembling imported parts, with some local production of non-electric components. Khaliq added that the facility would primarily produce vehicles for the domestic market, with the potential for exports to right-hand drive countries in the region, contingent on freight costs and business economics.
“We do not foresee excess capacity in our system as demand in Pakistan will catch up,” he noted.
BYD began delivering imported EVs in Pakistan in March. While Khaliq did not disclose exact sales figures, he mentioned that sales of a few hundred cars had already exceeded internal targets by 30%.
Khaliq projected that the market size for EVs and plug-in hybrid cars in Pakistan is expected to grow three to four times in 2025 from approximately 1,000 total units in 2024. BYD is targeting a 30-35% share of this segment.
According to a HUBCO filing, BYD Pakistan recorded a profit of around Rs444 million in the March quarter of 2025.
BYD is scheduled to launch its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck in Pakistan on Friday. China’s MG already offers a PHEV SUV, and rival Haval is expected to enter this segment soon.
Plug-in hybrids present a more practical solution in Pakistan, as the country currently faces a shortage of charging stations for all-electric vehicles. To encourage EV adoption and private charging stations, the government slashed power tariffs for chargers by 45% in January.
