China’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD Auto this week announced it has appointed its first passenger vehicle dealers in South Korea, ahead of the planned official sales launch in early 2025.
BYD Korea, the automaker’s local distributor, confirmed it has selected six local companies, including Samchully EV, DT Networks, Vision Mobility, Harmony Automobile, GN Mobility and SS Motors, to handle sales and aftersales operations for BYD’s battery-powered and plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles.
Each of these main dealers has agreed to establish sales and full-service outlets in their respective areas, with Samchully EV committed to building a network in the Seoul metropolitan area and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
DT Networks, a subsidiary of the local Deutsch Auto Group, has agreed to establish a dealer network covering Suwon, Goyang, Bundang and Busan, as well as outlets in Seoul, while Harmony Automobiles is set to establish outlets in Seoul’s Gangseo and Yongsan districts and in Jeju.
BYD already has a presence in South Korea’s commercial vehicle market, after it began selling trucks, buses and forklift trucks back in 2016. The company’s entry into the passenger vehicle market is expected to intensify competition in the country’s electric and hybrid vehicle segments, putting additional pressure on other importers and local manufacturers.
