BYD's Rayong Plant Hits 100,000 Vehicles as Solid-State Plan Targets 2027

BYD's Rayong plant built its 100,000th vehicle since July 2024, as the automaker rolled out new models in Japan and China and gained Brazil customs clearance.

BYD's overseas manufacturing footprint reached a symbolic threshold this week, with its Rayong facility in Thailand rolling out the 100,000th vehicle built locally since operations began in July 2024. The plant supplies both Thai buyers and export markets across the region, underscoring how heavily the Chinese automaker now leans on foreign production to offset softer momentum at home.

The milestone landed alongside a burst of product activity spanning three continents. In Japan, where BYD has been selling since 2023 and now fields six model lines, the refreshed ATTO 3 EX arrived with a first-ever all-wheel-drive option joining the existing rear-wheel-drive setup. The rear-drive variant now delivers up to 620 kilometers of WLTC range, while peak DC charging capacity has been lifted to 100 kilowatts.

Seal 07 Grows, Atto 1 Rethought

China's home lineup is being overhauled in parallel. BYD unveiled the second-generation Seal 07 sedan, which gains exterior dimensions and stretches to 5,080 millimeters in length, according to media reports. A preview of the model was shown a day earlier, with the full reveal following.

The compact Atto 1 also enters its second generation, switching to rear-wheel drive and a five-seat layout as part of a broader technical refresh. Those moves sit atop a steady drumbeat of launches: the Sealion 08 SUV officially entered the Chinese market on September 2 as the new flagship of the Ocean series, offered in eight trim levels priced from 229,900 Yuan ($33,890) to 279,900 Yuan, with buyers choosing between fully electric drivetrains and DM-i plug-in hybrids. Demand arrived quickly — more than 12,000 orders were booked within the first 24 hours of sales opening, per media accounts.

Distribution efforts are widening too. A sweeping sales campaign launched September 4 covers the full range of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, with the new DOLPHIN G DM-i among the offers, available from a monthly rate of 250 pounds.

Customs Breakthrough in Brazil

BYD's industrial complex in Camaçari, Brazil, secured regulatory clearance today in the form of the country's OEA certification for foreign-trade security and customs compliance. The designation is expected to cut clearance times for inbound and outbound cargo to a maximum of one day.

Looking further out, executive vice president Li Ke said in a media interview that BYD intends to bring its first solid-state battery vehicle to market in 2027. Management stopped short of detailing specifications, production volumes, or launch timing for individual markets.

Washington Guest List

Diplomatic preparations briefly pulled the company into a different spotlight. Bloomberg reported that Chinese government officials, ahead of a foreign trip by President Xi Jinping, weighed sending leading business figures to a meeting in Washington. BYD appeared on preparatory lists for the state visit on September 24 as a possible participant.

Shares Stay Under Pressure

None of the operational news has translated into market enthusiasm. The stock fell 3.2% in today's session to EUR 8.46, following a 1.0% decline the prior day that left it at EUR 8.72. Year-to-date, the shares are down 21%, with fierce competition and price wars across the global EV sector weighing on investor margin expectations.