The first batch of Dolphins left Thailand on August 25th aboard BYD's own cargo ship, the BYD Zhengzhou. This marked the Zhengzhou's maiden voyage from Thailand to Europe.
The CKD plant in Rayong, operational since July 2024, is BYD's first wholly-owned passenger car factory outside of China. With an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, the facility serves both the domestic Thai market and international exports.
In July, the Thai plant reached a milestone, delivering 90,000 vehicles one year after commencing operations.
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BYD Dolphin electric vehicles being loaded onto a ship at a Thai port for transport to Europe. Photo: Amarin TV |
BYD Dolphin electric vehicles being loaded onto a ship at a Thai port for transport to Europe. Photo: Amarin TV
"Following the delivery of our 90,000th electric vehicle in July, we have achieved another breakthrough," said Ke Yubin, general manager of BYD Thailand. "The first export of Thai-produced Dolphin models to Europe is not only a further step in BYD's globalization strategy but also highlights Thailand's important role in the global electric vehicle supply chain."
Electric vehicles manufactured in China face anti-subsidy tariffs imposed by the European Union in 2024. Because BYD is cooperating with the investigation, they face a lower additional tariff of 20.7% on top of the existing 10% import duty.
BYD sold 545,003 electric vehicles overseas in the first 7 months of 2025, a 133.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
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A batch of BYD Dolphins inside the cargo ship bound for Europe. Photo: BYD |
A batch of BYD Dolphins inside the cargo ship bound for Europe. Photo: BYD
According to data tracked by China EV DataTracker, BYD sold a total of 2,458,914 passenger cars globally during the same period, a 26.2% increase compared to 2024. However, growth is slowing, with only 341,030 passenger cars sold in July, a mere 0.1% increase, the lowest year-on-year growth in the past 1.5 years.
The BYD Zhengzhou is one of 7 self-built car carriers supporting BYD's rapidly expanding global export operations. The 7 ships are named after cities where BYD has factories.
The ship features an environmentally friendly dual-fuel system that reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption, and is also equipped with a generator for increased travel efficiency. BYD plans to increase its fleet to 8 ships by 2026. The BYD Zhengzhou has a capacity of 7,000-7,500 vehicles.
My Anh (CarNewsChina, Amarin TV)
