SHENZHEN-BASED electric vehicle giant BYD (SZ: 002594) on Saturday announced plans to open a car production plant in Pakistan, where it will also start selling three models through a partnership with Mega Motor Co. BYD is the first major new electric vehicle (NEV) entrant in the Pakistani market, where there is a lack of charging infrastructure. At an experiential launch event at the Lahore Expo Center, BYD unveiled three models that will soon be sold in Pakistan: Sealion 6, Seal, and Atto 3. The showcase included interactive exhibits and experiential zones such as the “Charging Zone,” offering insights into BYD’s fast charging technology; the “Sustainability Zone” highlighting BYD’s vision of “cooling the earth by 1 degree Celsius”; the “Tech Zone,” displaying BYD’s DM-i Super Hybrid, e-Platform 3.0, and BYD Blade Battery, along with facts about their technological breakthroughs. “Our entry into the Pakistani market is not just about bringing advanced vehicles to consumers,” said Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD’s Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division. “It’s about driving a broader vision of environmental responsibility and technological innovation. We believe that our new energy vehicles will play a crucial role in shaping a cleaner and more prosperous future for both Pakistan and the world.” BYD also plans to open three “flagship stores and experience centers” in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, the company said at the launch event, adding it plans to start selling the two SUV models and a sedan from the fourth quarter of 2024. Mega Motor Co. is a unit of Pakistan’s largest private utility Hub Power Co., Ltd., known as Hubco. “We will establish Pakistan’s first NEV assembly plant... dedicated to producing BYD’s cutting-edge new energy vehicles,” said Hubco chief executive Kamran Kamal, who described the deal as a “l(fā)andmark investment.” The new plant will begin operations in 2026, Kamal said. Hubco will setup fast-charging stations across major cities, motorways and highways to enhance Pakistan’s charging infrastructure. BYD’s net profit rose 10.6% to 4.57 billion yuan (US$636.3 million) in the first three months of this year from a year earlier, while its revenue rose 3.97% to 124.9 billion yuan. Last year, it became the first carmaker to sell over 3 million new energy vehicles in a year. (SD-Agencies) | 