BYD Thailand Hits 70K Production Milestone - Will Malaysia Do The Same?

BYD hit a major milestone in Thailand recently as its 70,000th vehicle rolled off the production line at its Rayong plant on Nov 27. The car in the spotlight was the Sealion 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV which was handed over to a local employee to mark the occasion.

The Rayong facility only started operations in July 2024, but has ramped up quickly. It crossed the 10,000-unit mark by Nov last year, and another 60,000 units followed in the 12 months since. BYD says the plant can produce up to 150,000 vehicles annually, supplying both Thailand and export markets.

Spread across 960,000 square metres, the site currently builds five models - the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, Seal 05 DM-i and Sealion 6 DM-i. It’s also BYD’s first fully owned overseas plant - a clear sign of how serious the company is about global expansion.

Thailand isn’t the only destination for these cars. Shipments are already going to Europe and other Southeast Asian (ASEAN) markets. In Aug 2025, for example, 900 Dolphins were exported to Germany, Belgium and the UK. Assembling cars in Thailand helps BYD avoid the extra EU tariffs placed on vehicles imported directly from China.

With that momentum, attention now turns to Malaysia. Back in Aug, BYD Cars Malaysia confirmed plans to setup its own local assembly (CKD) plant in Tanjong Malim, Perak, with production slated to begin in H2 2026.

The Malaysian facility sits on a 600,000-square metre plot, or roughly two-thirds the size of Rayong. This suggests a potential capacity of at least 100,000 vehicles annually once things hit full stride. And just like Thailand, Malaysia-assembled BYDs are expected to be sold both locally and abroad as the brand builds its export footprint.

BYD is already the top EV player in Malaysia and the strongest portfolio under the Sime Motor umbrella, with more than 20,000 cars delivered since its debut in 2022 as it pushes towards shaping the country’s EV future.

Source: CarNewsChina