China’s BYD Auto has begun production at its newly-built passenger vehicle assembly plant in Bahia State, Brazil, as the company continues its rapid global expansion. The opening of the plant comes just fifteen months after the company held the ground-breaking ceremony, in March 2024, and is a few months ahead of schedule.
BYD said it is investing BRL 5.5 billion (US$ 1 billion) in the facility, which has a designated production capacity of 150,000 battery-powered and plug-in hybrid vehicles per year. It is located near the coastal city of Camaçari, with easy access to the Port of Aratu, and is expected to create around 20,000 jobs directly and indirectly across the local supply industry.
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BYD’s executive vice president, Stella Li, confirmed in a statement: “From breaking ground to the first car rolling off the production line, it has only taken us 15 months. This achievement heralds a new chapter for BYD and sustainable transportation in Latin America.”
The first model to go into production was the Seagull, renamed the Dolphin Mini for the local market, which the company claims is the country’s best-selling all-electric vehicle model with 34,000 sales to date. Production of the Song Pro and Chaser 05 (King) is scheduled to go into production in the next few weeks.
BYD first entered the Brazilian market in 2021 and has sold a total of more than 130,000 vehicles here so far. In the first quarter of 2025, the company sold a total of 20,000 new energy vehicles in the country.
Alexandre Baldy, head of Sales and Marketing at BYD Auto Brasil, said in a statement: “We are transforming Camaçari into a powerhouse for the future. This manufacturing complex represents a victory for innovation, sustainability, and trust in Brazil. BYD has brought with it technology, investment and a purpose: to be part of the next chapter of the national automotive industry. What we are seeing today in Bahia is a milestone in the reindustrialization of the country and a major technological leap. BYD is now a company made by Brazilians for Brazilians.”
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By GlobalDataBYD said the Camaçari plant is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including intelligent automation which controls all phases of production. The company claims the facility is one of the most advanced in the world, with intelligent sequencing systems which prioritise production of models for which demand is highest. Each vehicle can be tracked in real time as it moves along the line.
BYD’s global sales increased by 33% to 2.146 million vehicles in the first half of 2025, including 464,000 in over 110 overseas markets.
