This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
BYD (BYDDF) may finally be getting its shot at India. After years of diplomatic frost and stalled ambitions, the Chinese EV powerhouse is quietly assembling its return strategythis time, with real boots on the ground. Ketsu Zhang, the company’s India Managing Director, is expected to land in the country within months, joined by senior engineers and executives now cleared for travel as New Delhi reopens business visas for Chinese nationals. The move follows the first meeting between Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, signaling a possible shift in tone. BYD insiders say the company views this moment as the most favorable opening since India blocked its local manufacturing proposal in 2023.
At the heart of the strategy: the Atto 2. Slated for launch in early 2026, this compact electric SUV will be BYD’s cheapest model in India and positioned squarely below the ?2 million ($22,690) thresholdeven with a 70% import duty. That puts it head-to-head with domestic names like Tata Motors and Mahindra, and in direct fire with VinFast’s newly launched VF6, priced from ?1.6 million. BYD already sells four EVs in India, with the Atto 3 leading the pack, and ranks as the country’s fourth-largest electric carmaker. But executives are also seeking local regulatory approval to lift the 2,500-car annual import capa gate that could unlock scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing auto markets.
Still, this isn’t a splashy reentry. There are no fresh factory announcementsyet. Zhang’s initial visit will focus on inspections, dealership briefings, and meetings with federal government officials. The company is expected to evaluate conditions at its southern India plant. Behind the scenes, the mood is cautiously optimistic. According to people familiar with internal calls, BYD leadership told Indian dealers that the geopolitical wind is shifting. For a firm shut out last year, that change could mean everything.
