BYD, the renowned Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant, has officially made its foray into the Italian passenger car market, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into Europe. On June 13, BYD held a momentous brand and product launch event in Italy, introducing its impressive lineup of vehicles, including the BYD Atto 3, Han, Dolphin, and Seal, to local consumers.
Recognizing the prominence of Italy as a key European automotive market, BYD acknowledged the country’s pivotal role in its strategic pursuit of overseas markets. In fact, BYD had previously introduced new energy commercial vehicles to Italy back in 2013. Now, with a focus on the passenger car segment, BYD is collaborating with several core local dealers, with the first five stores set to open in major cities such as Milan, Turin, and Florence.
The Atto 3, which is BYD’s inaugural global model, has already made waves in China under the name Yuan Plus and has gained popularity in numerous international markets. Italian consumers will have the opportunity to experience the Atto 3 firsthand as it will be available for test drives during the upcoming Monza Motor Show in Milan, scheduled to take place in mid-June.
BYD expressed its commitment to further invest in localizing its operations within the Italian market, with plans to expand its passenger car model matrix in the future. As China’s largest NEV manufacturer, BYD made a strategic decision to cease production and sales of vehicles solely powered by internal combustion engines in March of last year, choosing to focus exclusively on plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles.
The latest figures announced by BYD earlier this month indicate a remarkable sales performance. In May alone, the company sold an impressive 240,220 NEVs, reflecting a substantial 108.99 percent increase compared to the same period last year and a notable 14.23 percent growth from April’s sales of 210,295 units. While BYD sold 10,203 NEVs in overseas markets during May, there was a slight decline of 31.19 percent from the previous month’s sales of 14,827 units.
BYD’s expansion into the Italian passenger car market follows its successful entry into several European countries, including Germany, Sweden, and Denmark in the previous year, as well as its recent arrival in the United Kingdom in March. With its strong commitment to sustainable mobility and impressive range of NEVs, BYD is poised to make a significant impact in Italy and contribute to the ongoing shift towards cleaner transportation options.
