BYD reveals surprising details of the future electric car factory in Camaçari, Bahia

The opening of BYD's electric car factory is scheduled for 2024-2025, and BYD's president will come to Brazil to formalize the construction.

BYD, one of the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturers, is about to begin construction of its second factory outside China, in Camaçari, Bahia. Although the exact inauguration date has not yet been confirmed, the company's president, Wang Chuanfu, is expected to personally come to Brazil in October to formalize the start of construction, according to the Olhar Digital website.

The factory in Brazil: What we know so far

BYD plans to open its electric car factory in Camaçari between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. The facilities will be located in the former Ford factory, which already belongs to the Government of Bahia and is about to be officially taken over by BYD. The contract foresees an investment of R$3 billion for the construction of three units within the complex, which will include the manufacturing of cars, trucks, buses, and processing of cells lithium and iron phosphate.

The three electric car factories together are expected to generate more than five thousand jobs and have the capacity to produce up to 150 thousand units per year in the first phase, with the potential to reach 300 thousand units, which could be exported to other countries in Latin America. The Song Plus and Dolphin models will be manufactured in Brazil, while the Song Pro, although registered in the country, will initially be imported.

Furthermore, BYD demonstrates its commitment to local development, planning to take at least 100 Brazilian professionals for training in China, in order to familiarize them with the processes that will be implemented at the Bahia factory.

Changzhou, the mirror of Camaçari

BYD's factory in Changzhou, China, served as a model for the planned facility in Camaçari. With an area of ​​approximately 1.720.000 square meters, the Changzhou factory is an impressive and highly efficient operation.

In this facility, a car is produced every 4 hours, thanks to the complete process of stamping, welding, painting it's Photoshop Final. On average, every minute, a vehicle leaves the production line at BYD's Changzhou factory. In 2022, average monthly production reached around 20 thousand electric vehicles, totaling 240 thousand vehicles in the year.

The Changzhou factory currently employs more than 12 people and manufactures two models, the Yuan Plus and the Seal. Factory efficiency is maintained with the help of industrial robots, mainly from Japan's FANUC and Germany's KUKA.

Despite the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Changzhou factory was built in around 2 years, a little longer than expected. According to BYD, the factory uses cutting-edge technology and a high degree of automation, serving as a model for future factories abroad, including the installation in Camaçari. The plant's operation is powered primarily by electricity, with the additional use of natural gas in part of the process.

The factory and the advancement of sustainability

The construction of the BYD factory in Camaçari represents a significant step in the advancement of the electric vehicle industry in Brazil. With substantial investments and a solid strategy, BYD is positioned to become one of the main players in the sustainable mobility market in the country and in Latin America. The inauguration from factory promises to generate jobs, boost the local economy and boost the production of electric vehicles in the region.