BYD is currently considering Portugal for its third European factory, as part of the automaker’s strategy to produce locally and avoid tariffs on vehicles imported from China.
The company is soon opening a factory in Hungary — where its European headquarters are located — while another plant in Turkey is heading into the final stages of construction.
BYD Portugal’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pedro Cordeiro told local media outlet Eco that the country is being considered for a third factory in the Old Continent.
“There are contacts done directly by BYD in Portugal due to the advantageous conditions of the country,” Cordeiro stated, citing the lithium factory in Sines being constructed by the Chinese battery maker CALB.
Portugal’s COO also mentioned “the qualified workforce that can be attractive for choosing the new location in Portugal.”
According to Pedro Cordeiro, BYD got off to a strong start in Portugal, where it entered in 2023, benefiting from the country’s leading position in Europe when it came to new energy vehicles.
Cordeiro said that Portugal had “more charging stations than many other European countries” and was “at the forefront of electric vehicle sales, which remain above the European average at 20 to 22% of the market.”
He added that “the public charging network in Portugal has grown by about 30% since last year.”
Data from Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) showed that in 2023, Portugal ranked among the top five countries with the highest density of charging stations, averaging 53 outlets per 100 km of roadway or 72 outlets per each 100,000 inhabitants.
Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were the top 3.
However, a 2025 study by the same association showed that electrified vehicles — including hybrids and fully electric cars — still make up a relatively small portion of the Portuguese car fleet, accounting for about 35% of the market compared to 65% for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
BYD in Portugal
BYD offers twelve different models in Portugal, nine of which are fully electric vehicles (BEV). The remaining three are plug-in hybrids (PHEV).
The lineup is largely made up of sport-utility vehicles, with only a few exceptions: the Han and Seal sedans, and the Dolphin and Surf compact cars.
Prices range from €22,318 (€20,818 with financing) for the most affordable model (the Dolphin Surf) to €71,336 (or a lower €68,836) for the priciest model (the Tang SUV).
BYD has expanded its presence on the continent with a dealership business model.
In Portugal, it is represented by Salvador Caetano, one of the largest automotive groups in the country. Salvador Caetano also represents Chinese carmakers XPeng and Dongfeng.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai-based Nio Group is set to enter the market next week through JAP Group, which also represents GAC.
European Expansion
BYD‘s European Regional Managing Director Maria Grazia Davino said on Wednesday that the Chinese automaker is planning a major expansion across Europe next year.
She affirmed that BYD‘s lineup in Europe “can now cover about 90% of customer demand,” with both fully electric vehicles and hybrid models.
Since Davino joined the company a year ago, the automaker tripled its staff and dealer network across the continent.
Pedro Cordeiro reaffirmed on Thursday’s interview that the “[Dolphin] Surf will be the first model to be manufactured in Europe.”
The Dolphin Surf compact was launched in the Old Continent in May, with prices around €21,990 in several key markets.
