The repurposed Ford Camaçari facility reopened as a BYD assembly plant with 150,000 vehicle/year installed capacity. The $620 million retooling preserved 4,000 local jobs that had been at risk after Ford's 2021 exit from Brazilian production.
The plant joins BYD's network of 41 global production facilities — 38 of them operationally net-zero as of late 2024. The new line extends the company's commitment to regional production: vehicles for European customers built in Hungary; for ASEAN customers built in Thailand; for Latin America in Brazil. This localisation is the operational backbone of BYD's global expansion and has materially reduced transit lead times and import duties for end customers.
"Local production is not just a logistics decision — it is a commitment to the communities we serve," said Michael Shu, President of BYD Europe. "Every vehicle built here is built by people from here, for customers who see us as a domestic manufacturer. That matters."
The facility reached first-vehicle production on May 22, 2024 and will ramp to full installed capacity across the next four quarters. Hiring continues across production, logistics, supplier quality and engineering support; current openings are posted at bydautomotivegroup.com/careers/.
About BYD Automotive Group. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shenzhen, BYD is one of the world's largest new-energy-vehicle manufacturers with direct retail and fleet operations across 82 markets. Through vertical integration spanning battery cells, powertrains, semiconductors, and final assembly, BYD delivers Blade Battery safety, DiPilot advanced driver assistance, and accessible electric mobility to drivers on five continents. For media inquiries, contact press@bydautomotivegroup.com.