BYD Secures 100,000-Unit Order in Latin America as Brazil Plant Accelerates Expansion

Chinese automaker BYD expands its footprint in Latin America with a major order and production ramp-up in Brazil.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:04am

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BYD announced that its Brazil plant has secured orders for 100,000 new energy vehicles from Argentina and Mexico, marking a major milestone in the company's Latin American strategy. The Camaçari plant, built on the site of a former Ford factory, has an initial annual capacity of 150,000 units and plans to expand to 600,000 units to serve the broader Mercosur market. BYD's localized production in Brazil allows it to reduce costs and delivery times compared to imports, with the Dolphin Mini EV becoming a top seller in the country.

Why it matters

BYD's expansion in Latin America, centered on its Brazil operations, demonstrates the company's ambitions to become a major global player in the electric vehicle market. The large order and production ramp-up highlight BYD's ability to capitalize on growing EV demand in the region and compete with established automakers through localized manufacturing.

The details

The BYD Camaçari plant in Brazil, built with a 5.5 billion BRL investment, began production in July 2025 and will initially produce 150,000 units per year, including popular models like the Dolphin Mini, BYD King, and Song Pro. BYD plans to expand the plant's capacity to 600,000 units to serve the broader Mercosur market, taking advantage of lower import tariffs for locally produced vehicles. The Dolphin Mini EV has already become a top seller in Brazil, becoming the first pure electric model to top the monthly passenger car sales chart in the country.

  • BYD's Camaçari plant in Brazil commenced production on July 1, 2025.
  • The plant is expected to reach a capacity of 600,000 units in the future.

The players

BYD

A Chinese automaker and one of the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturers.

Stella Li

BYD Executive Vice President.

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What they’re saying

“This major progress marks the entry of BYD's Latin American strategy, centered on Brazil, into a phase of large-scale operation.”

— Stella Li, BYD Executive Vice President

What’s next

BYD plans to further expand the production capacity of its Brazil plant to 600,000 units to serve the broader Mercosur market.

The takeaway

BYD's major order and production ramp-up in Brazil demonstrate the company's ambitions to become a global electric vehicle leader, leveraging localized manufacturing to compete in the fast-growing Latin American market.