BYD confirms: negotiations ongoing to acquire the plants of some large European manufacturers

BYD further stretches its leg in Europe and now looks at the Old Continent not only as a commercial market but also as a production base. The Chinese manufacturer, a global leader in electric mobility, has confirmed negotiations with Stellantis and other European automotive groups to acquire underutilized facilities in various countries, with Italy among the options considered.

This was confirmed by Stella Li to the microphones of Bloomberg, the company's executive vice president, who explained that BYD is looking for "any available plant in Europe" to tap into unused production capacity. The goal is to directly manage the facilities, avoiding joint ventures and maintaining full industrial control of European operations.

The strategy comes at a time of strong pressure on the Chinese market, where the price war between manufacturers is pushing many brands to expand their international presence. At the same time, the rise in gas and oil prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has rekindled interest in electric vehicles, creating favorable conditions for expansion.

The numbers confirm this progression. In April, BYD sold 135,000 vehicles abroad, with a 70% increase compared to the same month in 2025, achieving the best international result in its history. In the first four months of 2026, deliveries outside China reached 456,253 units.

In the UK, BYD is already the best-selling EV brand in the first months of the year, ahead of Tesla, Kia, and numerous traditional European manufacturers. This figure highlights the need for a local manufacturing presence to reduce logistics costs, delivery times, and possible trade barriers.

On the industrial front, BYD has already started experimental production in the new plant in Hungary, while in Turkey, the opening of a 1 billion dollar factory is anticipated by the end of 2026. The acquisition of additional production sites in Europe would represent a further piece of a much broader strategy.

At the same time, the group is also pushing into the premium segment with the European debut of Denza. The brand has introduced technologies such as Blade Battery 2.0 and flash charging in 5 minutes, while the Denza Z9 GT is already available in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, with expansion planned in 30 countries by the end of 2026.

It's worth mentioning that this is not a real novelty: BYD has always expressed its intention to localize production, and just a few weeks ago, rumors of negotiations with Volkswagen had already surfaced. The discussions with Stellantis, a group with which BYD has clashed several times, seem almost ironic. In any case, it is evident that there are economic benefits in acquiring pre-existing plants that do not require setup costs and wait times, even if they are owned by Stellantis.