BYD Breaks Ground on $32 Million NEV Plant in Cambodia

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has commenced construction on a $32-million passenger vehicle plant in Cambodia's Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, marking the country's first new energy vehicle (NEV) production facility. Scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2024, the plant will assemble battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from imported kits, with an annual production capacity of 10,000 units. This expansion comes as Cambodia's EV market rapidly grows, with registrations surging from 313 in 2023 to 2,253 in 2024. BYD's presence in Cambodia is further solidified by nearly 1,000 NEV orders in the first quarter and a recent handover of NEVs to local telecommunications firm Smart Axiata. The company also plans to establish a training center to develop local NEV technical talent, supporting both industry growth and job opportunities. The Cambodia facility is part of BYD's broader Southeast Asian strategy, complementing plants in Thailand and Indonesia.