BYD Inks $1-B Deal To Build EV Plant In Turkey

China's biggest electric-car maker, BYD, has agreed to a $1-billion (£780 million) deal to set up a manufacturing plant in Turkey as it continues to expand outside its home country, Peter Hoskins reported for BBC News.

The deal was signed at an event in Istanbul attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and BYD's chief executive Wang Chuanfu. I Photo: Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye X

The new plant will be able to produce up to 150,000 vehicles a year, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu. 

The facility is expected to create around 5,000 jobs and start production by the end of 2026. The deal was signed at an event in Istanbul attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and BYD's chief executive Wang Chuanfu.

The announcement comes as Chinese EV makers face increasing pressure in the European Union (EU) and the US.

Last week, the EU took action to protect the bloc's motor industry by raising tariffs on Chinese EVs. The decision saw BYD hit with an extra tariff of 17.4% on the vehicles it ships from China to the EU, which was on top of a 10% import duty.

Turkey is part of the EU’s Customs Union, which means vehicles made in the country and exported to the bloc can avoid the additional tariff. The Turkish government has also taken action to support the country's car makers by putting an extra 40% tariff on imports of Chinese vehicles.