Not just electrics anymore. The world's largest manufacturer changes its strategy for Europe

Chinese car manufacturer BYD has chosen a new tactic in Europe. Although electric cars will continue to play an important role in the portfolio, BYD, following trends and the market, will start selling hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Probably in this way the company also wants to mitigate not only increasing sales, but also avoiding EU punitive tariffs on electric cars. The specific effects of this change in strategy can currently be observed in several European countries, including Poland. In addition to fully electric vehicles, such as Atto 2 and Seal, the world's largest manufacturer of electric cars now also offers the Seal U with a plug-in hybrid drive with a total range of over 1000 km. Two versions are offered - 218 HP (from PLN 169,900) and 324 HP (PLN 209,900). There are now more such models on the European market.

By the end of 2025, BYD intends to be present in 29 European countries and open more than 1,000 points of sale. In the coming months, the model range will be further expanded and will include, among others, the inexpensive small car Dolphin Surf (formerly known as Seagull), which will compete with, for example, the Dacia Spring. Contrary to earlier plans, BYD intends to produce not only electric cars but also models with combustion engines for the European market at its plants in Hungary and Turkey. BYD expects the annual production capacity of each plant to be 150,000 cars. With this reorganization, the Chinese giant will enter the European market even more aggressively and put additional pressure on European manufacturers. A particularly exciting question will be how the new plug-in hybrids will be received by European customers.