BYD's Bahia plant hits 100,000 vehicles and targets up to 600,000 annual output

BYD's Camaçari complex in Bahia celebrated producing its 100,000th electric vehicle in July 2026, just nine months after the plant began official operations. The milestone vehicle was a Dolphin Mini, a model that has led Brazil’s electric‑car retail for five consecutive months with more than 35,000 units sold this year.

The factory now employs roughly 5,500 people, 86% of whom are locals, and has become the largest BYD site outside Asia. An R$ 5.5 billion investment is entering a new phase that will add stamping, welding and painting lines, moving the plant toward full‑local production and reducing reliance on partially assembled kits.

BYD says the complex can ultimately build up to 600,000 cars per year, with an initial capacity of 150,000 units that could double to 300,000 before reaching the maximum. Export orders for 50,000 vehicles each to Argentina and Mexico have already been secured. In 2026 BYD moved to fourth place in Brazil’s sales ranking with 99,075 units sold, underscoring the rapid growth of its Brazilian operations.