The groundbreaking ceremony took place in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, where BYD officially launched the construction of its passenger vehicle manufacturing plant in Cambodia. The event was graced by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Sun Chanthol; Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wentian; and Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province, Kuoch Chamroeun, along with other key officials from both countries.
In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol highlighted that BYD's decision to invest in Cambodia reflects strong confidence in the country's business environment. He noted that BYD's entry not only brings new momentum to Cambodia's automotive manufacturing sector but also supports the diversification of its economy. The Cambodian government, he emphasized, will provide full support to BYD and looks forward to a fruitful partnership.
Ambassador Wang Wentian stated that the launch of BYD's plant marks a significant step in implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of China and Cambodia. It also embodies the joint effort to build a new-era, all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future. The ambassador expressed China's readiness to work with Cambodia to oppose protectionism and unilateralism, while promoting a more open global economy.
The new BYD factory will span 120,000 square meters and is expected to have an annual production capacity of 10,000 units, primarily focused on new energy vehicles (NEVs). The plant is scheduled to begin operations by the end of this year, aiming to deliver high-quality NEVs to the Cambodian market. Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD's Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, revealed that BYD has already received nearly 1,000 NEV orders in Cambodia during the first quarter alone, a clear sign of the market's recognition and trust in the brand.
In addition to vehicle production, BYD plans to establish a training center in Cambodia to cultivate local talent for the NEV industry. This initiative is expected to enhance Cambodia's technological capabilities in the field while creating new employment and career development opportunities for young professionals.
During the ceremony, BYD also held a symbolic vehicle handover event with Smart Axiata, delivering a batch of new energy vehicles to the Cambodian market. This move demonstrated BYD's growing presence and strong market potential in the country.
The launch of BYD's passenger vehicle plant marks not only the company's formal entry into Cambodia's automotive sector but also a new milestone in China-Cambodia economic cooperation. With high-tech and high-value enterprises like BYD settling in the region, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is poised to further strengthen its role as an industrial growth engine. In the near future, the zone is expected to become a key platform for Cambodia's multifunctional economic development and a strategic pillar of its "industrial development corridor."
