BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu (L) presents BYD’s 14-millionth new energy vehicle to Brazilian President Lula on Oct. 9. Photos from BYD

Pingshan-based new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD hit a milestone Oct. 9 when its 14-millionth NEV rolled off the production line at its factory in Camacari, Brazil — making it the world’s first NEV automaker to reach that figure.

The handover ceremony at BYD’s passenger car plant in Camacari was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The car, a BYD Song Pro, was presented to Lula as a gift and registered in his name.

The 14 millionth vehicle comes roughly 11 months after BYD produced its 10-millionth NEV in China in November 2024, underscoring the company’s rapid global expansion.

BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu said, “We are here not just to build cars but to build a future.”

Lula praised the investment, saying Brazil would “continue to strengthen ties with China,” its largest trading partner for the past 15 years. He added that BYD’s factory has brought renewed industrial momentum to Bahia and is helping revitalize Brazil’s automotive sector, offering the region a chance to bolster its industrial base with clean technologies.

Brazilian President Lula, officials from China and Brazil, BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu, and employees at BYD’s passenger car plant in Camacari, Brazil, pose for a group photo Oct. 9.

The Camacari complex — BYD’s largest facility outside Asia and the biggest electric vehicle factory in Latin America — represents a 5.5 billion reais (US$1 billion) investment. The plant began operations July 1. Its Phase 1 targets an annual capacity of 150,000 NEVs, with Phase 2 set to expand capacity to 300,000. BYD says the site will create an estimated 20,000 direct and indirect jobs once fully operational.

At the ceremony, Wang said BYD has operated in Brazil for more than 11 years and serves over 170,000 local customers. The company has been the top seller in Brazil’s NEV market for two consecutive years and now holds 74.4% of the country’s electric vehicle market by total sales, ranking seventh in overall passenger car sales.

Wang also announced that BYD will supply 30 customized NEVs for COP30, the U.N. climate conference to be held in Belém this November. The vehicles will be donated to local schools and public institutions after the event.

Ahead of the event, the Bahia state assembly voted to rename the main road in front of BYD’s factory “BYD Road” — the third overseas road to bear the company’s name, following ones in Lancaster, the U.S., and Rayong, Thailand.

BYD currently operates six overseas plants in Brazil, Thailand, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, and Cambodia.