BYD's Thailand plant rolls off 70,000th vehicle as localization strategy accelerates

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 27 local time, BYD's manufacturing plant in Thailand rolled out its 70,000th vehicle, a BYD Sealion 6, marking another milestone for the automaker's fast-expanding overseas operations.

The factory took sixteen months to progress from groundbreaking to its inaugural vehicle, and another sixteen months to reach the 70,000-unit mark. Notably, production surged from 10,000 to 70,000 units within the past year, underscoring a sharp acceleration in capacity ramp-up.

Photo source: BYD

The Thai facility plays a pivotal role in BYD's global strategy, serving both the domestic Thai market and export destinations across Europe and the broader Asia-Pacific region via the company's own roll-on/roll-off vessels. More than 92% of the plant's workforce is Thai, and BYD has emphasized talent development, workplace safety, and quality systems to strengthen long-term integration between local employees and the company's global operations.

The milestone 70,000th vehicle was delivered to an internal employee, according to the company. Looking ahead, BYD plans to further advance its localized operations in Thailand while upgrading the plant with smarter and greener production technologies. The company aims to supply more new energy vehicles to global markets from the facility, strengthening its international expansion.

The significance of the 70,000-unit milestone extends beyond production volume. BYD's rapid progress in Thailand has become a proof point for the broader "local manufacturing, global distribution" strategy pursued by Chinese new-energy vehicle makers. Completing the plant in sixteen months and multiplying annual output from 10,000 to 70,000 units showcases the company's manufacturing discipline and supply-chain integration capabilities, while aligning with surging demand for EVs in Southeast Asia.

A workforce that is more than 92% Thai and a logistics network supported by BYD's own roll-on/roll-off fleet have tightened the company's global supply-chain loop, offering a replicable model for other Chinese automakers exploring overseas production. As Europe and Southeast Asia continue to see rising EV penetration, the Thai plant is poised to become a strategic hub that helps BYD diversify market exposure and reduce trade-related costs.