BYD $150mn Pakistan plant in ‘final stages’, first local EV due soon

Chinese auto giant BYD’s Pakistan venture said its $150 million assembly plant in Gharo, Sindh, is in “final stages”, as the company ramps up efforts to bring the country’s first locally assembled BYD vehicle on the road “at the earliest”.

The update comes as BYD Pakistan last week received its largest shipment to date of more than 2,000 vehicles through a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel.

“Yes, the project continues to make strong progress, and we remain focused on bringing Pakistan’s first locally assembled BYD vehicle to market at the earliest,” Danish Khaliq, VP Sales & Strategy, BYD Pakistan - Mega Motor Company (MMC), told Business Recorder.

Also read: HUBCO’s Gharo plant set to come online in second half of 2026, eyes 25,000 vehicles annually

Khaliq said the facility, being developed in under two years from groundbreaking, underscores its long-term commitment to Pakistan’s automotive sector.

“Construction of our purpose-built NEV assembly facility in Gharo is now in its final stages, with equipment installation and commissioning currently underway,” he said.

Back in 2024, BYD officially announced its entry into Pakistan’s passenger vehicle market through a strategic collaboration with local partner MMC.

Last year, Khaliq announced that BYD plans to roll out its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August 2026.

“Being developed in under two years, the facility represents one of the fastest automotive manufacturing projects of its scale in Pakistan,” said Khaliq.

The BYD official explained that as with any world-class automotive manufacturing facility, multiple rounds of equipment validation, production trials, and quality testing are required before volume production can commence to ensure every system meets the company’s global manufacturing standards.

BYD moves ahead with Pakistan EV plant as govt pushes to deepen localisation

Once operational, the facility, backed by an investment of approximately $150 million, “will have an annual production capacity of approximately 25,000 vehicles, supporting the growing demand for New Energy Vehicles in Pakistan”.

Regarding the latest shipment of more than 2,000 EVs, the BYD official said the development reflects growing consumer confidence in the Chinese brand and is aimed at supporting customer deliveries while ensuring adequate vehicle availability across its dealer network.

“This shipment is a strong reflection of the growing demand for BYD vehicles in Pakistan and the confidence customers have placed in the brand. Consumers are increasingly recognising the value proposition of BYD’s New Energy Vehicles, which combine advanced technology, safety, performance, and efficiency.”

He added that the consignment had been secured despite increasing competition for global vehicle allocations.

“With BYD witnessing unprecedented global demand and continued pressure on international supply chains, securing vehicle allocation has become increasingly competitive. Working closely with the company, Mega Motor Company secured its largest shipment to date. This enables us to accelerate deliveries to our customers while supporting the growing demand for NEVs in Pakistan, following the recent rise in fuel prices.”

According to the official, consumer interest in NEVs has risen steadily over the past year as buyers increasingly weigh the total cost of ownership against conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

“The recent rise in fuel prices has further accelerated this shift, prompting more consumers to explore alternatives that offer lower running costs without compromising on performance,” said Khaliq.

The official said that BYD’s proprietary technology enables its vehicles to deliver up to 75% lower running costs than comparable ICE vehicles while maintaining high standards of safety, performance and reliability.

He also credited the gradual expansion of Pakistan’s charging infrastructure for improving consumer confidence in electric mobility.

“BYD Pakistan - MMC has partnered with HUBCO Green Private Limited (HGL) to roll out a nationwide NEV charging infrastructure network across Pakistan. To date, HGL has established a network spanning approximately 1,300km, connecting Karachi to Peshawar through 19 strategically located public DC fast-charging stations.

“HGL will continue expanding the network into new cities, key travel routes, and emerging urban centres, including Tier 2 cities, in line with the growing adoption of NEVs in Pakistan,” he said.

Looking ahead, Khaliq said the company would continue to align vehicle imports with market demand while investing in local manufacturing and charging infrastructure to support Pakistan’s NEV market.