BYD senior management to visit India to strengthen market presence

New Delhi: BYD Co, China’s electric vehicle maker, is preparing to expand their presence in India as relationships between the two countries are getting better steadily. According to a report from Bloomberg, BYD’s India Managing Director, Ketsu Zhang, will be visiting India in the coming months. Zhang is expected to meet the government officials and will also be inspecting the brand’s local passenger vehicle factory. 

With the easing of travel restrictions, the company has started applying for visas for their senior managers and engineers. This is going to help the auto maker service machinery as well as restart the training programs. India resumed the issuing of visas to Chinese citizens in July of this year, following a five-year suspension due to the pandemic and tension during the Galwan clashes. 

The relaxations will enable BYD a chance at making a strong case for themselves in the world’s most populous country. 

BYD recently delivered their 10,000th vehicle in India, with the carmaker at present selling eMAX 7 Atto 3, Seal and Sealion 7 models in the country. They have plans to launch the Atto 2 compact electric SUV early next year, making it their cheapest car in India and placing it alongside local competitors like Mahindra and Tata Motors. The company is trying to secure regulatory approval for roadworthiness that would aid in importing more cars, which at present stands at 2,500 cars a year. 

BYD’s previous proposal of setting up a manufacturing base in the country had been rejected before. Back in July 2023, the brand had $1 billion investment proposal to build electric cars and batteries in partnership with a local company. 

More global companies are looking towards India as a global hub for investment, with Vinfest officially entering the Indian market, and Tesla coming to India with their Model Y.