A Sealion 6 hybrid SUV manufactured by BYD in 2024. BYD Cambodia via social media
Prime Minister Hun Manet said that China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD plans to open an automobile plant in Cambodia in the near future.
“I have received information that soon, BYD, a Chinese electric car company, is planning to invest in car production in Cambodia. This is a success,” he said during the national celebration of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day (MSME Day) in Phnom Penh on June 27.
Manet emphasised that this investment would contribute to diversifying Cambodia's economic resources and production chains. He expressed hope that large companies investing in Cambodia connect with MSMEs, integrating them into the supply chain.
“Why do we need to promote the private sector? Why do we need to pay special attention to our small and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs]? Of course, we also care about and encourage large enterprises, like BYD. However, we must not neglect promoting … MSMEs,” he said.
Chey Tech, a socio-economic analyst, told The Post on June 28 that the investment by a world-class giant like BYD will attract interest from financiers in both the automotive and other sectors, increasing their trust in investing in Cambodia.
He added that assembling cars from such a major company will create many high-level technical job opportunities for Cambodians, providing them with high wages and technical expertise in EVs and other advanced skills.
“For consumers, locally assembled cars will be more affordable, reducing the need for imports and lowering associated costs,” Chey said.
“Even though parts will be imported for assembly, and considering import tariffs, the overall cost will still be lower compared to importing fully assembled cars,” he added.
Chey noted that Cambodians interested in using EVs will benefit from more affordable options due to local manufacturing.
In a meeting with BYD vice-president Liu Kading in China in October 2023, Sun Chanthol, first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), encouraged the company to build electric charging stations to support EV users.
At that time, he suggested that the company study the feasibility of constructing a car assembly plant in Cambodia, emphasising that 65 per cent of the Cambodian population is young, highly productive and capable of contributing to the manufacture of EVs to supply the Greater Mekong Subregion.
