The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in use in Cambodia is expected to rise by the end of 2025, with a BYD assembly plant scheduled to begin production in late 2025.

During a meeting on April 10th between the leadership of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and a delegation from BYD Auto Industry, Sun Chanthol, first vice-president of the CDC, acknowledged BYD's decision to select Cambodia as the location for another assembly plant in the Southeast Asian region.

The BYD delegation was led by Xiao Haiping, executive director of the BYD Group President's Office, who confirmed that the plant is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Chanthol explained that, as the Royal Government's one-stop service body, the CDC is prepared to facilitate and coordinate all private sector investment activities in Cambodia, ensuring a favourable and flexible investment climate.

He also noted that the trend of using BYD vehicles in Cambodia is increasing.

"Once the electric vehicle assembly plant is completed and officially begins operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, the usage rate of BYD vehicles in Cambodia is expected to rise further," he added.

According to BYD executives, a ground-breaking ceremony for the assembly plant is scheduled for the end of April 2025.

The BYD assembly plant will be located in the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, which offers convenient transportation access for various components. The plant, involving an investment of over US$30 million, is expected to have a production capacity of 10,000 vehicles per year.

Recently, BYD also introduced new vehicle models to the Cambodian market, including the BYD Sealion 5 and BYD Atto 2, which are equipped with advanced technology, are fuel-efficient, and are affordably priced for the Cambodian market.

In June 2024, Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged the establishment of BYD's assembly plant in Cambodia as part of the Royal Government's efforts to attract international investors to the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport recently reported that the number of registered EVs in Cambodia has increased. The report showed that the most popular EV brands in Cambodia are BYD, Toyota, and Tesla.

Currently, there are six car assembly plants operating in Cambodia, including those for Ford, SsangYong, Hyundai, Kia, GTV, and Toyota.