BYD's Brazil plant secures 100,000 export orders for Argentina, Mexico

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 13 (Reuters) - Chinese carmaker BYD's 002594.SZ Brazil factory has received export orders totaling 100,000 vehicles for Argentina and Mexico, executives said on Friday, as the company expands its Latin American operations.

• The orders comprise 50,000 vehicles each for Argentina and Mexico, BYD Americas Head Stella Li said at an event in Rio de Janeiro.

• The Camaçari factory in the northeastern Bahia state has an annual output capacity of 150,000 vehicles, with plans to expand it in phases to 600,000 units.

• The plant manufactures plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, including the Dolphin Mini, King, and Song Pro models.

• BYD sold about 113,000 cars in Brazil last year, making it the company's largest market outside China, according to car dealers association Fenabrave.

NEW INVESTMENT FOR RESEARCH CENTER

• BYD also announced on Friday it will build a research center in Rio de Janeiro with an investment of 300 million reais ($56.40 million).

• Construction is expected to begin this year and conclude in 2028, with infrastructure for testing speed, power, endurance and vehicle performance.

• The facility will generate data in tropical conditions to develop and adapt technologies for the markets where BYD operates, Li said.

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