BYD enters Croatian market and opens first showroom

(Photo credit: Matti Blume/CC BY-SA)

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) is entering the Croatian market, with its first showroom set to open in Zagreb on 23 April.

The new showroom will be located on Savska Road, in the space where Tesla once had its dealership.

After months of preparation, the showroom is now fully equipped and ready to welcome visitors.

BYD is expected to bring a range of electric saloons and SUVs that have already seen success in other parts of Europe.

The move adds another player to Croatia’s growing electric vehicle market, which already includes Chinese brands like MG and Dongfeng.

MG has enjoyed a strong 2024 so far, particularly with its MG4 model, which has had 126 registrations. Dongfeng’s Seres 3 and Seres 5 models have also seen increased interest.

Meanwhile, newer entries like the BYD Dolphin and XPeng G9 have just begun making their mark, with one registered vehicle each.

BYD specialises in manufacturing battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), electric buses, and trucks, sold under the BYD brand and premium labels like Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang.

Established in 2003 after acquiring Xi’an Qinchuan Automobile, BYD launched its first car, the petrol-powered F3, in 2005. Since 2020, BYD has seen significant sales growth, becoming China’s top-selling car brand in 2023, surpassing Volkswagen, and the world’s third most valuable automaker by market capitalisation.

The arrival of BYD could bring even more variety and competition to the Croatian EV scene, as local drivers continue to shift toward electric options.