BYD Makes a Splash in El Salvador's Car Market
Automotive company BYD makes its entry into El Salvador's passenger car market, inaugurating its first local store.
BYD, the leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer in China, has made its official entrance into the local passenger car market of El Salvador. The Central American country, bordered by Honduras to the northeast, Guatemala to the northwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the south, is the latest destination for BYD's global expansion.
The brand launch event in El Salvador, held recently, marked the opening of the company's first store in the country. BYD showcased a range of models, including the Seagull, Yuan Up, Seal, Song Pro DM-i, and Song Plus DM-i. The local sales of these vehicles are managed through a dealer, with Energy Motors serving as BYD's local partner.
BYD's entry into El Salvador is part of a broader strategy to enrich its NEV product lineup in the region. The company's overall strategy in Latin America involves high-quality, affordable electric vehicles, leveraging its growing production capacity in the region, particularly in Brazil.
In 2024, BYD sold 4,250,370 units of its passenger NEVs, a significant increase of 41.07 percent year-on-year. The company's global sales reached 4,272,145 units in the same year, also showing a 41.26 percent year-on-year growth.
BYD's expansion in Central America includes maintaining the leading position in EV exports, with 91,509 units exported to Central and South America in the first half of 2025, despite a 17.2% year-on-year decline. This indicates some market challenges, but the company has not revealed its future NEV product lineup for El Salvador specifically.
However, the regional dynamics may affect exact sales in El Salvador. The company's Brazilian production base, which started operations in July 2025, is expected to support growth in regional sales, potentially impacting markets like El Salvador positively as imports from nearby facilities increase.
Despite setting an ambitious global target to sell 5.5 million vehicles in 2025, BYD's sales have seen a dip in July 2025, putting this target at risk. Precise sales forecasts specifically for El Salvador in 2025 are not detailed in the available sources.
Audrey Li, vice president of BYD America and regional managing director of BYD Latin America, expressed her optimism about BYD's entry into El Salvador. She stated, "El Salvador, a country full of potential and opportunity, will greatly benefit from BYD's collaboration with local dealers."
In related news, BYD launched four models (Han, Tang, Song Plus DM-i, and Seal) in Guatemala last November. The company also sold 417,204 units overseas for the full year 2024, a substantial increase of 71.86 percent year-on-year. BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has officially entered the El Salvador passenger car market, expanding its presence in Central America.
References:
- BYD Latin America Expands Presence in Central America
- BYD Latin America Announces Plans to Expand in Latin America
- BYD's Global Sales Target at Risk Amid July 2025 Slump
- BYD's Central America Exports Decline Slightly in Early 2025
- BYD's Brazilian Production Base to Support Regional Growth
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