The sole Thai distributor of BYD, the world’s biggest electric vehicle maker, will triple its dealerships in Thailand in two years, it said, helping to cement the Chinese automaker’s dominant position in its top overseas market.
BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s top EV maker in the fourth quarter last year, and the expansion in Thailand underscores its global push – especially in markets where its US rival has yet to become a major vendor – as EV sales growth slows in its home market China.
Rever Automotive, the distributor that helped launch BYD in Thailand in late 2022, will add 200 dealerships by end-2025, expand commercial vehicle offerings and enter new passenger car segments, CEO Pratarnwong Phornprapha told Reuters.
“By the end of this year, we’ll have 200. And the next year, we’re planning for another 100,” Pratarnwong said.
“I think around 300 for us is a healthy number.”
Rever currently has around 100 outlets, establishing BYD as the dominant carmaker in the fast-growing Thai EV market with a 40 per cent market share, according to Pratarnwong.
BYD sold a total of 3 million passenger vehicles in 2023, with more than 90 per cent of those going into the China market, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association. Overseas sales amounted to around 242,000 units.
Beyond passenger cars, Rever is looking to make inroads into commercial fleets using BYD vehicles and technology, including for taxis, short-haul trucks and vans, and buses.
Reuters
