“France is in BYD’s shortlist” for a factory, says the executive vice-president of the Chinese group

France is part of the shortlist of countries in which the Chinese car manufacturer BYD plans to set up a new factory, the group's executive vice-president Stella Li said on Monday at the opening of the motor show in Paris.

“France is in the shortlist. (...) We are looking very closely at the possibility of setting up a factory in France,” said Stella Li on BFM Business.

“We will try to have a second and third factory in Europe,” added the vice-president of BYD, while the Chinese car manufacturer will open a factory in Hungary by the end of the year.

This Friday, China agreed to “moderate” the flow of hybrid vehicles to the European Union. This decision is likely to slow down the arrival of millions of Chinese vehicles on the European market in the coming years.

“We don't have the details yet, we just heard the announcement, (...) but BYD has a long-term commitment in Europe. We are going to invest massively in Europe. We will bring manufacturing, like in Hungary, and there will be prototypes,” detailed Stella Li.

“Becoming a local business in every region of the world”

“What interests us is the long term. (...) BYD has a strong commitment to Europe,” she assured, interviewed during her visit to Paris, for the opening of the Paris Motor Show.

“Sometimes it's a shame to see that there is tension because of customs duties,” she lamented, adding that “in the long term,” BYD intended to “become a local company in every region” of the world.

“BYD has had great successes in Europe. And now it's time to invest even more in manufacturing, in R&D jobs and in technology, so we can help society create jobs and create talent,” she continued.

Stella Li indicated that BYD had “very simple objectives”: “I want people in France to say to themselves that BYD is a French company. I want them to like it.”