BYD's Hungary car plant: assembly now due in Q4 2026, a year late. What it means for buyers outside Europe

BYD's first car factory in Europe, in Szeged, Hungary, is still ramping up. According to a Reuters report relayed by EVWire, BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said on 9 June 2026 that assembly at Szeged will start in the fourth quarter of 2026, about a year later than planned. She called Hungary the number one priority for BYD right now. In September 2025 she had said production would begin by the end of 2025.

Electrive reported on 2 February 2026 that trial production had started at the end of January, with about 960 workers. The same report put planned capacity at 200,000 cars a year, reached over several years, and named the BYD Dolphin Surf as the first model. In China the Dolphin Surf is sold as the Seagull. We found no report confirming that series production has started as of 25 October 2026, so the fourth-quarter date remains a plan.

EVWire adds that BYD is looking for a second European site and has held talks with Stellantis and other carmakers about taking over idle plants. A planned Turkish plant had not started construction in June and has no production date. Demand is already strong without local production: BYD's European sales rose 270% in 2025 to almost 188,000, and registrations were up 144% in the first five months of 2026, to more than 100,000. Worldwide, BYD sold 1,342,960 vehicles outside China from January to September 2026, up 92.66%, according to CnEVPost.

What this means for buyers outside China

1. 1.A European factory serves Europe. Cars built in Hungary are meant for the European market, and the first model is a small hatchback. Cars for other regions will still come from China.
2. 2.If you are in the EU, a locally built car may avoid the extra EU duties on Chinese-made electric cars. EVWire says local production would help BYD avoid them, but it gives no rates, so check the duty for your exact model and origin with your customs broker.
3. 3.Outside Europe, nothing changes soon. Lead times and prices for China-built BYD cars depend on the export company, the version and the shipping route, not on Szeged.
4. 4.Dates have slipped before. Treat any delivery promise that depends on the European plant as unconfirmed until BYD announces series production.

If you are interested in a BYD model, send an inquiry with your country and the version you want. We will check whether it can be registered there and what the export route is, and send an FOB reference price; the formal quote decides the final price.