Karachi: Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD plans to roll out its first locally assembled car in Pakistan by July or August 2026, aiming to capture the growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a senior company official confirmed on Wednesday.
The local assembly facility, currently under construction near Karachi, is being developed in partnership with Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Hub Power Company (HUBCO). The project began in April 2024 and marks BYD’s formal entry into Pakistan’s manufacturing landscape after it began importing and selling EVs in March this year.
According to Danish Khaliq, Vice President of Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan, the plant will initially have the capacity to produce 25,000 units per year operating in a double-shift mode. While the facility will start by assembling imported parts, it will also include some local production of non-electric components.
Initially, production will cater to the domestic market, with the potential to explore exports to right-hand drive countries in the region, depending on freight costs and other economic factors.
“We do not foresee excess capacity in our system as demand in Pakistan will catch up,” Khaliq said, expressing confidence in market growth.
BYD has already seen encouraging early results in Pakistan. Though exact sales numbers weren’t disclosed, Khaliq said that sales of a few hundred imported units had exceeded internal targets by 30% since March 2025.
He projected that the market for EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) in Pakistan could expand three to four times in 2025 from an estimated 1,000 units in 2024. BYD is targeting a 30–35% share of that growing segment.
According to a HUBCO stock exchange filing, BYD Pakistan reported a profit of PKR 444 million (USD 1.56 million) in the March 2025 quarter, indicating strong early performance.
As part of its expanding portfolio, BYD will launch its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck in Pakistan on Friday, entering a competitive space where China’s MG already offers a PHEV SUV and rival Haval is also expected to launch its PHEV lineup soon.
Plug-in hybrids are considered a practical choice in Pakistan due to the country’s limited EV charging infrastructure. However, efforts to encourage EV adoption are underway. In January 2025, the Pakistani government slashed power tariffs for EV chargers by 45%, and private companies have been gradually setting up charging stations.
BYD’s investment in Pakistan is part of its broader international strategy to expand beyond China amid an intense price war in its domestic market. The move also positions the company to take advantage of government incentives aimed at promoting EV manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions.
With its entry into local assembly, BYD joins a growing list of global automakers eyeing Pakistan’s evolving auto sector, where consumer interest in cleaner and more fuel-efficient mobility solutions is gaining ground.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
