Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is set to begin local assembly operations in Pakistan by mid-2026, marking a significant step in the country’s transition toward electric mobility.
The assembly plant, currently under construction near Port Qasim in Karachi, is expected to become operational by July or August 2026. This development is the result of a joint venture between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Hub Power Company (HUBCO), one of Pakistan’s leading energy firms.
The facility will start by assembling semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits imported from China, gradually increasing its localization levels over time. The initial production capacity is estimated at around 25,000 units annually, operating on a double-shift basis. BYD aims to introduce both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), with a particular focus on models suitable for Pakistan’s infrastructure and market conditions.
BYD has already begun importing and selling fully built electric vehicles in Pakistan, with encouraging early demand in major urban centers like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The company is targeting a 30–35% share in the country’s nascent EV and hybrid market, which is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years. Pakistan saw sales of just over 1,000 EVs in 2024, but the number is projected to rise significantly as government incentives and consumer interest increase.
This investment aligns with Pakistan’s National Electric Vehicle Policy, which envisions 30% of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. To support this transition, the government has introduced reduced customs duties on EVs and is encouraging the development of charging infrastructure. In response, BYD and its local partners are also planning to set up a network of charging stations in key cities and along major highways.
The move into Pakistan also forms part of BYD’s broader global strategy to expand its manufacturing and sales presence beyond China. The company has recently launched or announced new operations in Brazil, Hungary, Turkey, Thailand, and Mexico. The Karachi facility is BYD’s first major investment in South Asia and could potentially serve as a base for exports to nearby right-hand-drive markets like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and even parts of Africa.
While the outlook is promising, BYD will face several challenges, including building out the local supply chain, ensuring consistent power supply for its facility, and educating consumers unfamiliar with EV technologies. Nonetheless, with local demand growing and strong policy support, Pakistan could become one of BYD’s key emerging markets in the region.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and e...
Afghan and Russian businesses signed 15 trade agreements worth $103 million in Kabul on Thursday during a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Al...
Rising demand for air cargo and expanding international aviation networks are opening up new trade opportunities for Central Asia and the South Cau...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning at this year's COP31 summit, saying the climate crisis iss advancing faster than governments' efforts to contain it.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and energy high on the agenda. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks focused on peace, trade and regional cooperation.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Iran will not let a single particle of its enriched nuclear material leave the country, and any new U.S. attack would be met with strikes on distant American bases, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei has said.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and energy high on the agenda. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks focused on peace, trade and regional cooperation.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is stepping down amid reports linking him to a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of spying for China, throwing the future of the $4 trillion chipmaker into uncertainty.
Tajikistan is urging regional allies to step up support for its border with Afghanistan following a series of deadly armed incidents. Despite building more than 80 new border outposts, Dushanbe says it needs further assistance to secure its southern frontier.
Eight people have been killed and at least 17 injured after an apartment building collapsed into a neighbouring construction site in Brooklyn, New York, as rescuers continued searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine, but warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets by Moscow.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment