Sihanoukville: An assembly plant of a leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, BYD, located in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, will commence operation in the fourth quarter of this year. The plan was unveiled in a meeting on April 10 between H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and Mr. Xiao Haiping, Executive Director of BYD Group President’s Office.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Sun Chanthol appreciated the firm for expanding its assembly plant to Cambodia, highlighting that CDC stands ready to facilitate private sector investments, including BYD, in Cambodia with a flexible and convenient investment environment. Mr. Xiao Haiping deeply appreciated the good coordination of the Royal Government of Cambodia as well as the CDC from an early stage to the current preparation for the site construction phase to begin in late April.

With the move, which is an investment of US$32 million and the creation of 200 jobs, BYD will join other global automotive giants such as Ford, Toyota, and Hyundai in having their vehicle assembly factories in Cambodia. BYD also plans to establish two service centres and install 200 electric vehicle charging stations across Cambodia, demonstrating its commitment to supporting a sustainable electric vehicle market in the country.

In 2024, there were a total of 2,253 registered EVs, increasing from 313 in 2023, according to a report from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The Royal Government has set a target to achieve 40 percent electric cars and urban buses and 70 percent electric motorbikes by 2050 in order to reduce carbon emissions.