The initial shipment of production-line machinery for BYD reached Szeged, Hungary, on Tuesday, 9 December. Current reports indicate that the local factory will begin trial manufacturing in the first quarter of 2026, with full-scale production slated to start in the second quarter, according to the Beijing, China-based automotive industry news site CarNewsChina.com.
The launch of a new BYD manufacturing plant in Southern Hungary was originally announced in December 2023. The premier electric automaker in the world (overtaking Tesla in global sales this year) decided to open the new facility to avoid additional tariffs for electric cars and improve its competitiveness, as the site put it.
On 9 December, China-based BYD news outlet Yuanzhitou 2018 released a video showing the first shipment of BYD production equipment reaching Szeged. The outlet reported that the local plant is expected to launch trial production in early 2026, with full mass production set to follow in the second quarter.
Earlier statements from BYD officials indicated that production at the Hungary plant was planned to begin by the end of 2025. However, a prior report by Reuters suggested that the factory’s launch would be pushed to 2026. Additionally, the facility is expected to operate below full capacity during its first few years.
The first model to roll off the assembly line in Szeged will be the Dolphin Mini (also known as Seagull, Dolphin Surf, or Atto 1) electric hatchback. It will later be joined by other models, including the Atto 3 (Yuan Plus), Dolphin, Seal, and Seal U (Sealion 6/Song Plus). Once fully operational, the plant is projected to have an annual production capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles.
BYD has also announced a strategic partnership with the University of Szeged (SZTE) in education, research, and development, as we reported earlier this month.
Related articles:
