According to reports, BYD (比亚迪) is currently in negotiations with the Stellantis (斯特兰蒂斯) Group and several other European automakers, planning to take over idle automotive plants in regions such as Italy to utilize existing European production capacity for the advancement of localized electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.
Stella Li (李柯), Executive Vice President of BYD (比亚迪), revealed that the company is actively seeking available factory resources in Europe and prefers revitalizing idle capacity through acquisitions or takeovers rather than building new factories from scratch, thereby rapidly enhancing local supply capabilities in Europe.
Unlike some automakers that opt for joint ventures or OEM models, BYD (比亚迪) has explicitly stated a preference for independently operating the factories it takes over to maintain autonomous control over production, management, and supply chain systems, ensuring consistency in product standards and operational efficiency. This strategy contrasts with the recent move by Stellantis to expand cooperation with Leapmotor (零跑汽车) and commission Spanish factories to produce electric vehicles.
Currently, traditional European automakers generally face pressures such as high costs, intensified competition, and idle internal combustion engine production capacity, providing a window of cooperation for Chinese automakers to revitalize local factories. Simultaneously, as the price war in the domestic auto market continues, BYD (比亚迪) is accelerating its global layout; sales growth in the European market and rebounding demand for electric vehicles have further increased the urgency of establishing local production.
In addition, BYD (比亚迪) is recruiting talent from within the industry to drive the expansion of the Denza (腾势) brand into the European market. According to the plan, Denza (腾势) is set to enter the UK market within this year.
Overall, taking over idle European factories not only helps BYD (比亚迪) circumvent trade barriers and reduce logistics and tariff costs but also shortens the capacity implementation cycle and improves market response speed, marking a significant step in deepening its European layout and advancing its globalization strategy.