Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD plans to increase its European workforce to more than 40,000 employees by 2030 as it expands manufacturing operations and strengthens its presence in the region. The company expects to employ more than 10,000 people in Europe in the near term as it moves beyond exporting vehicles to establishing a larger local production base.
Stella Li, executive vice-president of BYD and head of its overseas business, outlined the employment target in an interview with Bloomberg TV at the Paris Motor Show. She said the company’s commitment to Europe was long term and that its workforce would be “absolutely over 40,000 in 2030”.
The hiring drive is expected to draw workers from the automotive sector and other industries. Li said BYD could also recruit employees affected by job cuts at European companies, as it builds the workforce required to support its expansion.
The recruitment plans come as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers face increased scrutiny from European authorities over imports and competition. China and the European Union recently reached a broad agreement that included restrictions on the number of hybrid vehicles imported from China. BYD is still assessing the implications of the new measures, with Li saying the company needed further details.
Manufacturing expansion is central to BYD’s European strategy. The company is in the final stages of preparing its first European factory in Hungary, where it aims to begin mass production in the fourth quarter. The facility is expected to support its efforts to manufacture vehicles closer to European customers.
BYD is also considering additional manufacturing locations in the region. According to Li, France and Spain are among the countries being considered for its next factories, although no final decision has been announced.
The planned expansion would make BYD one of the largest non-European automotive employers in the region. Its recruitment drive is expected to accompany the development of local manufacturing capacity as the company seeks to establish a more substantial presence in the European market.
The workforce target signals the scale of BYD’s long-term European ambitions, with hiring expected to span the automotive industry and potentially other sectors as its operations grow.
