BYD’s EV Assembly Plant in Pakistan
Driving the Future: Pakistan’s EV Revolution Accelerates with BYD, Policy Incentives & Industrial Growth
- Timeline & Capacity
- BYD, in collaboration with Mega Motor Company (a subsidiary of Hubco), is constructing an EV assembly plant near Karachi. The factory is scheduled to begin operations around July–August 2026, with an initial annual production capacity of 25,000 units on double shifts.
- Local Assembly Strategy
- The plant will assemble imported EV components while manufacturing non-electric parts locally. Initially, output is focused on domestic demand, with export potential to right-hand drive markets (e.g., parts of Africa or South Asia) being considered.
- Market Growth & BYD’s Goals
- BYD expects Pakistan’s EV and plug-in hybrid market to grow 3–4× in 2025, up from about 1,000 units in 2024, aiming to capture a 30–35% share of that expanding segment.
- Early Sales Success & Financials
- Sales of imported BYD EVs began in March 2025, and delivered units already surpassed internal targets by 30%, though exact figures weren’t disclosed. In the March 2025 quarter, BYD Pakistan earned a profit of Rs 444 million (≈ USD 1.56 million).
- Government Incentives
- The Pakistani government has slashed electricity tariffs for EV charging by 45% in January 2025, bolstering adoption rates and infrastructure development.
EV Adoption Targets & Strategic Positioning
- Ambitious Long-Term Vision
BYD Pakistan projects that up to 50% of all vehicles purchased in Pakistan could be electric by 2030, aligning with global EV adoption trends. However, while a 30% share may be feasible, infrastructure challenges may hinder achieving the full 50% figure.
- Export Aspirations
BYD, via its partnership with Hubco, aims to elevate Pakistan as a regional EV manufacturing and export hub—supplying markets in Africa and South Asia.
Broader Industry Context & EV Momentum
- Policy Encouragement & Early Milestones
- The Auto Policy 2021–26 has played a pivotal role in drawing international OEMs (like Hyundai, MG, and Changan) toward EV and hybrid production in Pakistan.
- Master Changan Motors achieved a significant milestone by exporting the Changan Oshan X7 SUV, marking Pakistan’s first vehicle export under the updated auto policy.
- Hybrid Vehicle Production
- Toyota Indus launched local assembly of the Corolla Cross Hybrid in December 2023, following a $100 million investment—a landmark step in domestic hybrid EV manufacturing
