BYD Korea, the South Korean unit of China’s BYD, has finalized six dealer partners ahead of its passenger car market launch in South Korea in January 2025, according to a report by the Maeil Business Newspaper. The announcement marks a significant step in the company’s expansion into a region dominated by strong domestic automakers.
The appointed dealers—DT Networks, Samchully EV, Harmony Automobile, Vision Mobility, GNB Mobility, and SS Motors—will handle sales and customer service for BYD’s passenger vehicles. BYD follows a dealer-based distribution model in 99 countries and regions worldwide, emphasizing its established global strategy.
BYD Korea is completing preparations for the launch, which includes building a sales and service network, obtaining vehicle certifications, and training employees. “The company is also finalizing its marketing plans to introduce BYD passenger vehicles effectively into the Korean market,” a spokesperson for BYD Korea noted in the announcement.
The automaker first entered South Korea in 2016, focusing on commercial vehicles like buses and forklifts. This upcoming launch signals BYD’s entry into the competitive South Korean passenger car sector.
In a related development, South Korea’s Korea Economic Daily reported earlier this year that BYD was in discussions with KG Mobility to establish a battery cell plant in the country, potentially operational by 2025. While no official confirmation has been made by BYD, the venture could further enhance its foothold in the South Korean market.
BYD has also been expanding across Asia, including its entry into Japan’s passenger car market in 2022. In the first half of 2024, the company sold 1,084 vehicles in Japan, an 88% increase year-on-year, reflecting growing demand for its new energy vehicles.
