Electrified vehicles are growing in sales in the country, more and more 100% electric and hybrid brands and models are coming to the domestic market, and this Wednesday evening it is the turn of the Chinese company BYD, which arrives with an official representative office in Ecuador and three new electric models. Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited and CEO of BYD Americas, reveals how the Chinese company, present in 70 countries around the world, arrived in Ecuador and what its expansion plans are.

How does BYD arrive in Ecuador?

It is given through a new partner named Andor, who will become the first distributor to have a brand with 100% New Energy vehicles.

They share the same vision as BYD regarding electrification and the future of the environment. Andor is willing to put the best technology into dealerships. In addition, the vehicles will be on display at malls and malls for people to experience and try out the cars.

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Why did you decide to come to Ecuador?

Ecuador is a very environmentally friendly country and is in tune with climate change, as 85% of the country’s electricity is produced in hydroelectric power plants, which means that more than 85% of the electricity is from clean energy. With the arrival of BYD in Ecuador, it is expected that the country will continue to progress on its journey towards sustainability and environmental protection.

In how many countries is BYD present with an official representative office?

It is currently present in more than 70 countries around the world. In Latin America, BYD already has an official representative office in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Panama, among others. In fact, BYD is 100% in Latin America and continues to expand in the region and on other continents.

How are sales of the brand’s electrified vehicles performing worldwide?

By 2022, BYD has established itself as the world’s number one seller of new energy electric vehicles (NEVs), including pure electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), with sales of more than 4.1 million. Until April. BYD sold 1.86 million new energy vehicles last year alone, with an annual growth rate of 152.5%.

In March of this year, we became number 1 in the overall market in China. We just delivered 210,300 new electric vehicles to the market in April.

How does BYD see the Ecuadorian market, what are your sales expectations?

This year, BYD plans to introduce the brand in Ecuador and build its first experience center and four showrooms in the country. Although they do not have a defined sales target, BYD’s goal is to bring a new electric vehicle experience to local customers and educate them about the benefits of electric mobility.

What are the expectations for the sale of electric models, do you see growth in that segment in Ecuador?

We have conducted a thorough analysis of the global market, as well as the Ecuador-specific market, and we believe that there is great potential for the growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market in the country.

With the rising cost of fossil fuels and the relatively low price of electricity in Ecuador, we believe that consumers will increasingly consider electric vehicles as a viable and long-term profitable option.

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What challenges will the brand face?

We are aware that there are still challenges to overcome, such as the lack of charging infrastructure and the need to educate the public about the benefits of electric vehicles, we are committed to helping accelerate the penetration of electric vehicles in the Ecuadorian market.

Apart from the 3 electric models launching today, what other vehicles do you expect to arrive in Ecuador?

We have ambitious plans for the Ecuadorian market and, in addition to the three electric models that are being launched today: Dolphin, a model that is in high demand in China, with sales of up to 35,000 units per month; Yuan Plus EV, a compact SUV and one of our best-selling models in other markets; and Han, a sedan in the premium category.

In addition to these models, we continue to evaluate which other vehicles may be suitable for the Ecuadorian market, taking into account the needs and preferences of local consumers.