BYD Auto is working to take over an existing factory in southern Europe for its second assembly plant on the continent, a top executive said on June 10, 2026 — with Spain on the shortlist of candidate locations.

The disclosure, made to Reuters in Berlin, signals that the Chinese electric vehicle maker prefers acquiring an installed plant over building greenfield capacity for its European expansion. A takeover would give BYD a production foothold faster than a new-build program, though the executive did not name a target site or a timeline for a decision.

Why does a takeover matter for BYD's European ramp-up?

Buying an existing factory compresses program timing. A greenfield automotive plant typically needs years of construction, tooling and homologation before the first saleable car rolls off the line. An acquisition — particularly of a facility with recent automotive-grade infrastructure — can cut that lead time substantially, allowing BYD to localize production and shorten delivery chains into European markets.

The company has not disclosed which facilities it is evaluating, at what price, or with what planned output capacity. The executive confirmed only the geographic focus — southern Europe — and that Spain is among the countries under consideration.

What is confirmed versus what remains intention?

Confirmed so far, per the executive's statement:

• BYD wants a second European assembly plant.
• The preferred route is a takeover of an existing factory.
• The search targets southern Europe, with Spain on the shortlist.

Not yet established:

• A named site, seller or purchase agreement.
• Investment size, planned capacity in units, or headcount.
• A decision date or start of production.

Until BYD signs a deal and files capacity plans, the project remains an announced intention rather than a committed manufacturing program — a distinction European plant watchers will apply when weighing the announcement against actual production data.

What to watch next

The pivotal milestones are concrete: whether BYD converts the shortlist into a binding acquisition, which country and site it selects, and the first published capacity figures for the plant. A Spanish deal would add a Chinese-owned volume EV manufacturer to the country's industrial base; a competing southern European location could reshape the regional sourcing calculus.

Watch for a formal site announcement, the identity of the selling party, and any capacity or jobs figures attached to the takeover — the numbers that will turn this executive statement into a verifiable manufacturing program.