China's BYD to roll out first locally assembled EV in Pakistan by mid-2026 amid surging demand
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is aiming to launch its first locally assembled car in Pakistan by July or August 2026, as it seeks to tap into the rising demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, according to a Reuters report.
The move comes amid the company’s ongoing international expansion efforts outside China, where intensifying price competition has prompted global outreach.
The plant, currently under construction near Karachi since April, is a joint venture between BYD and Mega Motor Company, a subsidiary of Pakistani utility Hub Power.
Initially, the facility will have a production capacity of 25,000 units per year on a double-shift basis, according to Danish Khaliq, BYD Pakistan’s vice president of sales and strategy.
While no timeline has been provided for when the facility will reach full capacity or begin mass production, the plant will begin by assembling imported parts along with limited local manufacturing of non-electric components.
The vehicles produced in the initial phase will be sold in the domestic market, though Khaliq said the company may consider exporting to right-hand drive markets in the region, depending on freight costs and the broader business environment.
“We do not foresee excess capacity in our system as demand in Pakistan will catch up,” he said.
BYD began delivering imported EVs in the Pakistani market in March and, although exact sales figures were not disclosed, Khaliq noted that sales of a few hundred vehicles have already surpassed internal projections by 30%.
He also projected that the market size for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Pakistan could grow three to fourfold in 2025, up from roughly 1,000 units this year. BYD is targeting a 30–35% share of that segment.
Citing a stock exchange filing by HUBCO, the report said BYD Pakistan posted a profit of approximately Rs 444 million ($1.56 million) in the March 2025 quarter.
BYD is set to launch its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck in Pakistan on Friday.
The local plug-in hybrid segment is also drawing competition from other Chinese automakers, with MG already selling a PHEV SUV and Haval expected to enter the market soon.
Plug-in hybrids are viewed as a more viable option in Pakistan, where the lack of charging infrastructure remains a major barrier to the adoption of all-electric vehicles.
In a bid to promote EV usage, the government reduced electricity tariffs for charging stations by 45% earlier this year.
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