China's BYD Begins EV Production in Uzbekistan

China's top electric vehicle (EV) maker, BYD, has officially kicked off EV production in Uzbekistan through a joint venture. Back in December 2022, BYD teamed up with Uzbekistan's Uzavtosanoat JSC (UzAuto) to cater to the rising demand for EVs in Central Asia. The first phase of production aims to roll out 50,000 units annually, focusing on BYD's Song Plus DM-i and Destroyer 05 hybrid plug-in EVs. Specific details about future development phases haven't been revealed yet.

Located in Jizzakh state in eastern Uzbekistan, the plant produced its first BYD Song Plus DM-i vehicle on June 27. This event marks the beginning of mass production at the facility and is expected to significantly boost vehicle electrification in the country, said BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu.

BYD has also signed a green transportation cooperation initiative with the Uzbek government to promote the country's EV development. The company began selling EVs in Uzbekistan in March 2023.

Chinese EV makers, including BYD, have been ramping up their global expansions to manage potential oversupply and address geopolitical challenges from the US and Europe. BYD has invested in EV production in Hungary, Thailand, Brazil, Morocco, India, and Vietnam, with a total planned capacity of around 1 million units per year.

Since 2022, BYD has been the world's largest producer of new energy vehicles (NEVs), manufacturing 1.29 million NEVs from January to May, a 26% increase compared to the previous year. During the same period, sales rose by 27% to 1.27 million units. In 2023, BYD's NEV sales surged to 3.024 million units, up 62% from the previous year. The company is also a leading EV exporter in China, with over 176,000 units shipped from January to May.