Chinese automaker BYD has signed a car parts distribution agreement with Italian firm Intergea, aiming to strengthen its foothold in Europe amid slowing domestic demand, the company said on Friday.
Under the partnership, original BYD car parts will be made available across Italy within 48 hours through Intergea’s subsidiary, CRF, starting in May. “The deal is a key step towards breaking the preconception about the difficulty of finding spare parts for Asian vehicles, an issue often perceived as an obstacle to purchase,” BYD said in a statement.
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Chinese automakers, including BYD, are increasingly looking to expand in Europe, leveraging their expertise in electric vehicle (EV) technology and setting up manufacturing and assembly plants in the region.
BYD has set a target of selling 5.5 million vehicles in 2025, a 29% increase from the 4.27 million units sold in 2024, company chairman Wang Chuanfu told Chinese media outlet LatePost. This includes plans to nearly double overseas sales to over 800,000 vehicles.
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Meanwhile, BYD is set to bring its first 1,000-kW ultrafast charging stations online next month, ahead of the official launch of its Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, a company executive said on Thursday.
Initially unveiled on March 17, the chargers can add 400 kilometers of range in five minutes, BYD said at the time. The automaker plans to deploy 4,000 of these stations, with the first 500 expected to be operational by early April.