BYD is reportedly negotiating with Stellantis and other European automakers about taking over underutilized plants in Europe as part of its international expansion, according to BYD’s top executive responsible for overseas market expansion. Bloomberg reports that the Chinese electric-vehicle maker is in talks with Stellantis and multiple European carmakers regarding potential factory acquisitions or takeovers.
The discussions come as European automakers evaluate capacity use and potential partnerships. Stellantis said last week it is considering selling an underutilized factory in Spain to Leapmotor, a Chinese joint-venture partner of Stellantis. Separate reporting also links the broader factory-sale and capacity theme to the possibility that Chinese and other companies could take over facilities to support production.
TechNode adds that BYD is considering acquiring factories from other automakers beyond Stellantis and frames the moves as connected to BYD’s growing vehicle exports to international markets over the past two years. Across the reports, the common thread is that BYD is exploring plant takeovers in Europe through talks with multiple companies, rather than announcing a specific acquisition or location.
