BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, prepares to set foot in Romania's market.
BYD To Debut in Romania with Ambitious Expansion Plans
Challenger to US-based Tesla, BYD, a prominent electric vehicle manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, is making its designated entrance into Romania. To spearhead operations, the company has recruited Romanian executive Andrei Duică.
BYD's representative office in Romania is set to open in April 2025, boasting 20 car dealerships, with seven electric and plug-in hybrid models offered initially. This number is expected to expand to 30 dealerships by the year's end, with a goal of reaching 60 locations within three years according to EV Market.
The initial cities to welcome BYD showrooms include Bucharest, Iasi, Brasov, Timisoara, Cluj, Constanta, and Pitesci, with future plans to extend to cities like Ploiesti, Craiova, and others.
Unlike other Chinese car brands such as MG, BYD will operate autonomously as an importer in Romania, offering popular models like the Dolphin Surf, Sealion 7, and the Atto 2. These models aim to compete in the market share held by popular cars such as the Dacia Spring, Tesla Model Y, and Ford Puma.
Duică, formerly the Executive Director at Trust Motors, was tapped to lead operations in Romania and Bulgaria. He stated, "We are focusing on competitive pricing. The BYD Dolphin Surf is a contender for the Dacia Spring. For the plug-in hybrid segment, we have the BYD Seal-U DM-i and a model intended for the C-segment sedan category. All models will be available on the Romanian market in 2025."
BYD anticipates selling 5,000 electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Romania by the end of 2025. Construction is currently underway for BYD's first European factory in Szeged, Hungary.
Romania's marketconditionforEVs, supported by government incentives and growing charging infrastructure, is expected to foster demand for BYD's models. The company aspires to become Europe's leading electric vehicle brand by 2030. Global sales of New Energy Vehicles reached 380,000 units in April 2025, significantly up from the previous year, foretelling strong growth potential for BYD's expansion strategy in Europe.
[Source: EV Market, Bennnn (Dreamstime.com)]
In the European market expansion of BYD, the automotive industry's competitor to Tesla, finance will play a significant role in funding the establishment of their first European factory in Szeged, Hungary. Furthermore, technology will be instrumental in showcasing BYD's innovative electric vehicle models, such as the Dolphin Surf, Sealion 7, and the Atto 2, in Romania's growing transportation sector.
