BYD announced it plans to invest BRL 300 million (US$ 57 million) to build a new research and testing centre in Brazil, as the Chinese automaker continues to expand its presence in the Latin American region.

BYD confirmed that the new Automotive Testing and Evaluation Center, which will include a number of test tracks, will be built on a 184,000 square metre plot within Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport complex. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in late 2026, with completion scheduled for 2028.

The new centre will be similar to the company’s existing test facility in Zhengzhou, China, and will include infrastructure to evaluate vehicle performance and durability in various extreme conditions, including specialist tracks for off-road driving and a submerged track to test vehicles in flooded conditions.

BYD’s executive vice-president, Stella Li, pointed out Brazil’s growing importance within the company’s international growth strategy, adding that the new centre in Rio de Janeiro “will strengthen Brazil’s strategic role for the company and for the future of electric mobility."

In addition to expanding our presence in the country, the new centre will allow us to generate data in tropical conditions, which is essential for developing and adapting technologies with even greater precision for the countries in which we operate.”

BYD also announced it is adding a second shift at its vehicle assembly plant in Camaçari, in Brazil’s Bahia state, to meet growing regional demand. The company confirmed it will add 800 new jobs at the facility, where it produces the Dolphin Mini, King and Song Pro models, which is expected to double its production capacity from an initial 150,000 units to 300,000 units per year.

According to reports, the Camaçari plant recently received export orders from Argentina and Mexico for a combined 100,000 vehicles over an undisclosed period.