17:17 04-02-2026

BYD begins trial production at its new plant in Hungary

Chinese automaker BYD has started trial production at its Szeged plant in Hungary, with serial production set for 2026. The facility will produce 200,000 vehicles yearly, starting with the BYD Dolphin Surf.

Chinese automaker BYD has reportedly begun trial production at its new passenger car plant in Szeged, Hungary. Mayor László Botka announced this at a public event. Serial production at the Chinese manufacturer's first European facility is slated to commence in the second quarter of 2026.

BYD had previously stated plans to start production before the end of 2025. However, the company is only behind its initial schedule by a matter of weeks or months. Late last year, BYD representative Stella Li clarified that construction work would be completed by the end of 2025, with production launch expected in the first half of 2026.

According to the mayor, output will be ramped up over several years to reach the planned capacity of 200,000 vehicles per year. Staff numbers will also be increased in phases. Hungarian Conservative reports that the plant currently employs around 960 workers, mostly local residents and predominantly Asian guest workers.

The first model to roll off the Hungarian production line will be the compact, fully electric BYD Dolphin Surf. The company states this model is intended to be one of BYD's key vehicles 'made in Europe for Europe'.

Hungary remains a strategic foothold for BYD's regional expansion. Since 2017, the company has produced electric buses there for the European market, operates two battery assembly plants, and has relocated its European headquarters and R&D center to Budapest. BYD also plans to start production in Turkey, while industry insiders report a potential third European plant, possibly in Spain.