BYD has reaffirmed that Spain remains in the race for its second European car plant. Executive Vice President Stella Li said in an interview in Abu Dhabi — and separately to Europa Press — that Spain is "among the pre-selected countries" for the facility. The statement keeps Madrid on the shortlist, but BYD has attached neither a timeline nor an investment figure to the project.
The second plant would build on BYD's first European factory in Hungary, which is set to begin producing vehicles this year, according to industry reports. Those same reports have France alongside Spain in the running for the follow-on site, meaning Western and Southern European governments are competing to anchor the next phase of the Chinese carmaker's European build-out.
Spain's case is strengthened by wider momentum. Madrid is courting Chery and SAIC, while Ford plans to share its Valencia plant with Geely, according to the same report. BYD itself is already closing in on 40,000 registrations in the Spanish market in 2026, Spanish outlet Motor16 reports — commercial weight that underlines the logic of local production.
For Central and Eastern Europe, the stakes are clear. The Hungarian plant anchors BYD's manufacturing presence in the region, and the broader wave of Chinese investment is feeding supplier demand: Austria's voestalpine says Chinese carmakers are bolstering European steel demand as they localise production.
Much remains open. With no date and no investment sum committed, and France still in the frame, the second-plant decision could take time — and it is separate from BYD's previously reported deliberations over a battery plant in Portugal. Two parallel decisions will now shape how quickly the carmaker's European footprint deepens.
As BYD's expansion turns into showroom presence across the continent, buyers and dealers comparing brands face more choice than ever — and price comparison is the smart first step. Readers looking for a vehicle can find sensational cars at sensational conditions at WorldTrader24, Europe's marketplace with over 70,000 vehicles.
