Chinese car giant BYD has promised a range of new electric and plug-in hybrid models specifically designed in Europe for European buyers. Speaking in Shenzhen, BYD's special adviser for the European market, Alfredo Altavilla, said Chinese and European customer needs are diverging, citing differences in car dimensions and interior preferences.
Altavilla highlighted that the upcoming Dolphin G is the first BYD model designed exclusively for Europe and will not be sold in China. He noted that BYD's R&D team has made radical changes to products sold in Europe, including dedicated chassis and multi-link suspension to meet European requirements such as Autobahn performance, UK potholes, and Italian mountain roads.
BYD is building an R&D team in Budapest and a design team in Milan. Its first European factory in Hungary will open in the coming months, and executive vice-president Stella Li said the company is open to acquiring an existing European plant for additional production capacity.
BYD currently sells six all-electric and four plug-in hybrid models in the UK. The Dolphin G supermini plug-in hybrid, with a combined range of over 600 miles, and the Ti7 full-size SUV will arrive soon. Altavilla previously stated that every BYD model except the smallest Dolphin Surf will be available as both electric and plug-in hybrid.
BYD is also investing in an ultra-fast Flash Charging EV charger network in the UK, capable of charging a battery in a similar time to refuelling a petrol car. Since arriving in 2023, BYD's UK sales have grown rapidly, with 51,422 cars sold last year and over 26,000 in the first four months of 2026, achieving a 3.45 per cent market share.
