Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD says its $150 million New Energy Vehicle (NEV) assembly plant near Gharo remains on schedule to become operational in the third or fourth quarter of 2026, as the company pursues a long-term strategy centered on local assembly, supplier development and eventual integration into global supply chains.
The facility, being developed by BYD Pakistan in partnership with Mega Motor Company (MMC), a subsidiary of Hubco, is designed as a purpose-built NEV plant with an annual production capacity of 25,000 units.
In a conversation with Nukta in March 2026, Danish Khaliq, Vice President Sales & Strategy at BYD Pakistan-MMC, said work on the facility had been underway since early 2025 and was progressing according to schedule.
BYD initially entered Pakistan through imported completely built-up (CBU) vehicles, but the company says the next phase of its growth will focus on localization and domestic assembly.
BYD currently offers several models in Pakistan, including the all-electric Atto 2 and Atto 3 SUV and Seal sedan and Sealion 7, while the company has also expanded its lineup with the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup truck to broaden its presence in Pakistan’s growing new energy vehicle segment.
Localization strategy
According to BYD Pakistan-MMC, the localization process will begin with completely knocked-down (CKD) operations, allowing vehicles to be assembled domestically while gradually increasing the use of locally sourced components.
“Pakistan’s transition to electric mobility should not be viewed as replacing one form of import dependence with another,” Danish said during a conversation with auto sector reporters.
“The long-term opportunity lies in building a localised manufacturing and supplier ecosystem around NEVs, and that is very much part of our vision for Pakistan.”
The company plans to prioritize localization of bulky and high-value components before expanding into more complex systems as domestic supplier capabilities develop.
“We are structuring our assembly plans with progressive localization in mind,” Danish explained.
“As we move towards CKD operations, the focus will be on building local capacity step by step, and over time expanding into deeper parts of the value chain as the ecosystem matures.”
The project is expected to create more than 1,100 jobs and contribute to the development of Pakistan’s automotive manufacturing sector.
Potential role in global supply chains
Beyond local assembly, BYD sees Pakistan as a potential participant in its broader global supply chain network if local manufacturers can meet international standards for quality, scale and cost competitiveness.
The company, however, says long-term policy certainty will be essential to encourage investment and support industrial development.
“Policy stability and long-term incentives are critical for markets like Pakistan where automotive investment cycles are long,” Danish noted.
“A consistent framework of at least 10 years, with a clear distinction between CBU and CKD structures, is essential to encourage real localisation rather than short-term trading.”
He also warned that expanding used vehicle imports without corresponding support for local manufacturing could slow the development of a domestic automotive ecosystem.
Charging corridor to connect Karachi and Peshawar
Alongside its manufacturing plans, BYD and its local partners are working to expand Pakistan’s EV charging infrastructure.
Danish said the country’s first and largest charging corridor, being developed through a partnership between Mega Motor Company and Hubco Green, is expected to go live soon.
The corridor will connect Karachi and Peshawar with charging stations located every 200-250 kilometers.
The company is targeting approximately 40-50 charging stations nationwide by the end of 2026 as part of its broader efforts to support electric vehicle adoption in Pakistan.
