BYD Pakistan, a joint venture between China’s BYD and Pakistan’s Mega Motors, announced that up to 50% of all vehicles sold in Pakistan could be electric by 2030. This goal reflects the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs).
Entry into the Pakistani Market
BYD, a major Chinese EV maker supported by Warren Buffett, entered Pakistan last month. The company plans to open an assembly plant in early 2026 and will start selling vehicles later this year, following the launch of three new models in August.
Vision for New Energy Vehicles
Kamran Kamal, BYD’s spokesperson in Pakistan and CEO of Hub Power, which owns Mega Motors, shared his outlook. He believes that new energy vehicles (NEVs) could make up 50% of the market by 2030.
Challenges in the Auto Sector
This goal is ambitious for Pakistan, where the auto market has been dominated by Japanese brands like Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki. Vehicle sales recently hit a 15-year low. However, competition is increasing with South Korean brand KIA and Chinese brands like Changan and MG offering hybrid models.
Focus on Charging Infrastructure
BYD Pakistan is the first major company to focus on new energy vehicles in Pakistan. Hybrid electric vehicle sales in the country have more than doubled in the past year. Reaching a 30% NEV adoption rate by 2030 is feasible, but achieving 50% may be tough due to infrastructure issues.
To address these, Kamal noted that the government plans to promote charging infrastructure. The power ministry has drafted standards for EV charging stations and may offer affordable electricity. BYD Pakistan is working with two oil companies to set up 20 to 30 charging stations in the initial phases.
Plans for Local Assembly
Initially, BYD Pakistan will sell fully assembled vehicles, which face higher import duties compared to locally assembled ones. The company aims to start producing locally assembled cars as soon as possible.
Details about the new plant and investment, including BYD’s partnership with power utility Hubco, will be announced later.
