BYD ventures into El Salvador's car market; inaugurates initial local showroom
BYD Expands Presence in Central America with El Salvador Entry
Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD has made its official entry into the El Salvador passenger car market, marking a significant expansion of its presence in Central America. The company's first store in the country is now open, showcasing models such as the Seagull, Yuan Up, Seal, Song Pro DM-i, and Song Plus DM-i.
The brand launch event in El Salvador, held recently, was attended by Audrey Li, vice president of BYD America and regional managing director of BYD Latin America. Li expressed her optimism about the collaboration with local dealers, stating that El Salvador, a country full of potential and opportunity, will greatly benefit from BYD's presence.
In 2024, BYD saw a significant increase in its vehicle sales, both domestically and overseas. The company sold a total of 4,272,145 units of vehicles, a 41.26 percent increase year-on-year. Of these, 417,204 units were sold overseas, marking a 71.86 percent year-on-year increase. The local partner of BYD in El Salvador is Energy Motors.
BYD's overseas sales are expected to continue growing, with Deutsche Bank forecasting that the company will deliver 5 million cars in 2025. This figure, consisting of approximately 4 million domestic deliveries within China and 1 million overseas, is a significant reference point for expectations this year. Other analysts, such as Morgan Stanley, have a slightly higher delivery projection, but Deutsche Bank's figure is often cited as a significant reference point.
BYD's robust growth is highlighted by its expanding exports and new production capacity, such as the Brazilian plant started in mid-2025. The company is on track to becoming the world's largest car manufacturer by volume, with ambitions to produce over 5.5 million vehicles in 2025 overall, which aligns closely with Deutsche Bank's forecast.
In the future, BYD plans to further enrich its NEV product lineup in El Salvador. Sales of passenger NEVs by BYD in 2024 reached 4,250,370 units, representing a 41.07 percent year-on-year increase. BYD sells its cars in El Salvador through a dealer.
El Salvador is a Central American country bordered by Honduras to the northeast, Guatemala to the northwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. BYD introduced four new models (Han, Tang, Song Plus DM-i, and Seal) in Guatemala last November.
[1] Reference: Deutsche Bank's Forecast for BYD's Car Sales in 2025 [2] Reference: BYD's 2024 Annual Sales Performance [3] Reference: BYD's Ambitions to Become the World's Largest Car Manufacturer [4] Reference: BYD's New Production Capacity in Brazil
- BYD's ambitious target of producing over 5.5 million vehicles in 2025, as aligned with Deutsche Bank's forecast, signifies a significant expansion in the automotive industry.
- In El Salvador, BYD's sales of electric vehicles (EV) saw a 41.07 percent year-on-year increase in 2024, with the brand expanding its product lineup in the coming future.
- The mobility sector in El Salvador is poised to witness a transformation with BYD's entry, as the company showcases its innovative models such as the Seagull, Yuan Up, and Song Pro DM-i.
- Energy Motors, the local partner of BYD, will handle sales in El Salvador, contributing to the growth of the finance sector in the country as more individuals opt for EVs.
- BYD's success in the transportation sector, highlighted by its robust growth in sales and expanding exports, positions it as a major player in the global market, rivaling traditional automotive giants.
- The technology sector will also be influenced by BYD's presence in Central America, as the company's advancements in energy and NEVs contribute to a more sustainable transportation future.
