This article appeared in the March 2019 (Vol.14, No.3) issue of China Automotive Review (CAR), our monthly publication in English exclusively focused on the Chinese auto industry. If you would like to read this information-packed monthly report on the Chinese automotive market (in PDF format on a paid basis), please send your subscription to us at: sub@cbuauto.com.cn

MURCIA, Spain – BYD debuted two pure electric on-highway trucks and one pure electric van in Europe in late January at a premiere presentation in the Estadio Nueva Condomina stadium in the city of Murcia in southeast Spain.

The event in Murcia was hosted by both BYD and dealership Tomi Maquinaria, a key electric forklift truck dealer for BYD in the Spanish regions of Murcia and Almeria.

BYD's etrucks and vans have been proven in China and certain global market, but have not been offered to customers in Europe.

The first trucks available to European customers are the T6 light truck (7.5T GVW) and the Q1M Yard Tractor (46T GCWR), the latter specifically designed for airport, port and distribution centers. The fully electric T3 commercial vehicle is the first van BYD is bringing to Europe. These first units are the pioneers for a full range of 100 percent electric light and heavy commercial vehicles which BYD plans to roll out across Europe in the coming years.

Isbrand Ho, managing director of BYD Europe, said: "This is a highly significant step for BYD – the introduction of a whole range of proven and competitive zero emission vehicles spanning key sectors of the commercial vehicle sector. Our previous pure electric products have cemented their position in their respective categories – taxis, city buses and forklifts. We are confident that this fourth product range – etrucks – will also win sales success even though the European CV sector is intensely competitive."

"Today we are the pioneers in Spain bringing the cleanest technology in the market to our roads," said Antonio Martinez, general director of Tomi Group. "Now it is everyone's duty to take advantage of it and make achievements together and become an example for the rest of Europe."

BYD established its European electric truck division in 2018 and has since tested two of its prototype electric trucks across Europe, according to Javier Contijoch, vice president of sales at BYD Europe. "The premiere of the BYD electric trucks is the start of the roll-out in Europe. Other European regions are soon to follow," said Contijoch.

BYD now is the market leader in Europe in terms of electric bus supply, and it plans to complete deliveries of 3,000 forklifts to European customers this year.

The above article appeared in the March 2019 (Vol.14, No.3) issue of China Automotive Review (CAR), our monthly publication in English exclusively focused on the Chinese auto industry.