BYD Thailand Output Drops as Plant Hits 100,000 Units
BYD's Rayong factory reached its 100,000th vehicle, but monthly output has slowed by about one-third.
Key points
- BYD’s Rayong plant produced its 100,000th vehicle 26 months after starting operations.
- Monthly production slowed to roughly 3,100 units, a drop of about one-third.
- The plant employs 6,000 people, with 95% being Thai nationals.
BYD’s plant in Rayong, Thailand, produced its 100,000th vehicle on Monday. This milestone came 26 months after operations began in July 2024. The pace of production has recently slowed significantly.
The slowdown is notable because the factory is now running at roughly a quarter of its designed capacity. Earlier reports from eletric-vehicles.com highlighted this shift in output levels.
Production Pace Slows Down
The plant built its 10,000th car in November 2024. By November 2025, it had reached 70,000 units. That average was about 4,800 vehicles per month.
The next 30,000 vehicles took about 10 months to build. This new pace is roughly 3,100 cars a month. That represents a drop of about one-third in speed.
Local Jobs and Parts
BYD employs about 6,000 people at the Thai site. Around 5,700 of them are Thai nationals. This means 95% of the workforce is local.
Local suppliers provide about 50% of the components used. BYD works with more than 266 Thai companies. Over 1,090 component items meet specific Thai industrial standards.
Higher Costs and New Taxes
Building cars in Thailand costs more than importing them from China. Managers cite smaller production scales and higher tooling costs. Lower volumes at local suppliers also add to expenses.
Thailand is considering a new excise tax rate of about 30%. This would apply to fully imported electric vehicles. The current rate is above 10%. Officials aim to finalize these rates soon.
