Competition is knocking at Elon Musk’s door. This time it’s BYD’s factory in Zhengzhou, which is already known to be larger than the one in San Francisco and ten times larger than Tesla’s. BYD (Build Your Dreams) is China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer and, with its hidden project in central Henan Province, is set to revolutionize the automotive world. The new plant will cover an area of more than 32,000 acres (equivalent to approximately 129.5 km²).
China: continues its race to erase its carbon footprint, as far as possible
This is a monumental project notable not only for BYD’s ambition to dominate the electric vehicle sector, but also for the crucial role China plays as an industrial power in the race for global energy transition. Thus, it continues its race to erase its carbon footprint, as far as possible.
The first stage of the megacomplex opened in April 2023, since then, over 60,000 workers have been employed
The fact is that the factory is believed to be more than just a factory, but rather a city in its own right, comprising medical centers, shopping areas, a stadium, and worker dormitories. The BYD factory will become one of the largest industrial facilities in history. Located in Zhengzhou, it will be BYD’s megafactory, which may very well be known as the Teslafactory, rewriting the script in the mobility realm. Remember that this project is divided into three parts. The first stage of the megacomplex opened in April 2023, with an initial capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles per year. Since then, over 60,000 workers have been employed.
BYD’s factory is going to be bigger: Tesla’s Nevada facility covers more or less 4.5 square miles
Supplying the Chinese market and the growing international market in the electric car sector, by the end of the project, capacity is expected to exceed one million vehicles per year. One of the main competitors is Tesla, the giant owned by Elon Musk. Tesla’s Nevada facility covers more or less 4.5 square miles, and BYD’s factory is said to be far larger than that.
Therefore, based on the information available so far, BYD is fully capable of cutting Tesla’s competitive prices even further. Regarding the location, the choice of Zhengzhou is due to its location in a central region of China, facilitating the domestic and international distribution of vehicles and components. Furthermore, the project boasts a robust logistics infrastructure.
BYD has distinguished itself by integrating all manufacturing steps internally
BYD is making a statement by dominating the global EV market and creating its own innovative factory model. BYD has distinguished itself by integrating all manufacturing steps internally, from batteries to chips, from assembly to research and development. This strategy not only ensures greater cost control but also protects the company from global supply chain shocks. Furthermore, this move reflects China’s national strategy to consolidate the country as a global leader in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry.
By 2023, BYD surpassed Tesla in the number of electric vehicles sold worldwide
Along these lines, this is somewhat what Donald Trump intended with his intention of unifying all of Apple’s manufacturing processes in the United States. The intention of not being dependent on China was evident. But the US president also emphasized the need to avoid dependence on external forces.
Furthermore, the company is also promising to produce 200,000 cars per year from its headquarters in Szeged, Hungary, proving that BYD has landed in Europe as well and is threatening Tesla. By 2023, BYD surpassed Tesla in the number of electric vehicles sold worldwide. The presence of these R&D (research and development) centers within the factory itself accelerates the innovation cycle and allows BYD to bring more advanced products to market in less time.
