Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
The Chinese electric vehicle company Build Your Dreams (BYD), the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, has officially started the construction of its factory in Camaçari, in the Brazilian state of Bahia. BYD is investing an estimated 3 billion Brazilian reais (approximately $600 million) in the development of the plant, which will be the company’s first electric vehicle factory in Brazil.
The Camaçari plant is expected to produce 150,000 vehicles per year, according to the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by the governor of Bahia, Jerónimo Rodrigues, BYD’s president in Brazil, Tyler Li, and the company’s general manager in the country, Alexandre Baldy. The first phase of construction includes the development of 26 facilities, such as production warehouses and a test track, covering an area of approximately one million square meters. The project is estimated to create more than 5,000 direct jobs, and production is expected to begin between late 2024 and early 2025.
The existing facilities, which will be taken over when a Ford plant closes in 2021, will be used by suppliers to produce parts and components for BYD’s new vehicles. The Chinese company’s goal is to begin assembling cars at the plant by the end of this year and reach full production by 2025, supplying all Brazilian states and Latin American countries where BYD operates.
The Bahia complex will specialize in the production of electric bus and truck chassis, electric and hybrid passenger cars, and lithium and iron phosphate processing. Initial models to be produced include the BYD Dolphin, BYD Song Plus, BYD Yuan Plus and BYD Dolphin Mini. This project represents a significant milestone in Brazil-China relations, consolidating BYD’s presence in the automotive market and strengthening commercial ties between the two nations.