Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is gearing up to launch its first locally assembled car in Pakistan by July or August 2026, aiming to tap into the growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a senior company official revealed on Wednesday.
As the world’s leading EV manufacturer, BYD has been aggressively expanding its footprint beyond China, where fierce competition has triggered a price war. The upcoming plant in Pakistan is part of its broader strategy to target emerging markets and benefit from government incentives.
Construction of the facility began in April near Karachi, in collaboration with Mega Motor Company—a subsidiary of Hub Power. According to Danish Khaliq, Vice President of Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan, the plant will initially operate in double shifts, with an annual capacity of 25,000 units. However, he did not provide a timeline for when full-scale production would be reached.
Initially, the plant will focus on assembling vehicles using imported kits, while producing some non-electric components locally. The primary target is the domestic market, but BYD is also exploring the possibility of exporting to right-hand drive countries in the region, depending on freight costs and overall business viability.
“We don’t expect surplus capacity, as domestic demand in Pakistan is expected to keep pace,” Khaliq stated.
BYD began delivering imported electric vehicles in Pakistan in March 2025. While specific sales figures weren’t disclosed, Khaliq noted that a few hundred units have already been sold, surpassing internal projections by 30%.
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He anticipates significant growth in the local EV and plug-in hybrid market, projecting that sales will rise three to four times in 2025 compared to just 1,000 units in 2024. BYD is aiming to capture a 30–35% share of this rapidly expanding segment.
According to a Hubco filing, BYD Pakistan posted a profit of approximately Rs444 million ($1.56 million) during the March 2025 quarter.
As part of its product lineup, BYD will launch the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck in Pakistan this Friday. Competitors like MG are already selling plug-in hybrid SUVs, and Haval is expected to enter the market soon.
Plug-in hybrids are seen as a more feasible solution in Pakistan, given the country’s limited EV charging infrastructure. To boost adoption, the government cut electricity tariffs for EV chargers by 45% in January, encouraging private sector investment in charging stations.