BYD aims for top‑three EU automaker status as Swiss buyers boost its European earnings

Chinese electric‑vehicle group BYD says it will become one of the three largest car manufacturers in Europe in the medium term. The plan relies on wholly owned production sites – currently two factories in Hungary and a pending third plant that could be built in Turkey – and on a Europe‑specific model line, exemplified by the Dolphin G, which is not offered in China. BYD is expanding its local R&D centre to about one hundred engineers and enlarging its design hub in Milan, while targeting a network of more than 2,000 dealers and continent‑wide spare‑part depots by the end of 2026. The company highlights a rapid‑upgrade capability, promising model adaptations within 60 days, and is evaluating involvement in motorsport such as Formula 1 or the FIA World Endurance Championship.

In Switzerland the BYD Seal is sold for roughly CHF 41,000, whereas the same trim costs about €36,000 (≈ CHF 33,000) in Germany. The price gap stems from lower Swiss taxes – 8.1 % VAT and 4 % import duty – versus German charges of 19 % VAT, a 10 % standard import duty and a 17 % electric‑vehicle surcharge, amounting to a 46 % tax burden in Germany. After removing duties, BYD earns about CHF 18,000 per Seal in Germany but roughly CHF 36,000 per car in Switzerland, effectively doubling its net revenue per vehicle in the Swiss market.