AKP Phnom Penh, January 30, 2026 -- Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sun Chanthol met with senior executives from China’s BYD Group on Friday to discuss the automaker's strategic expansion, following the successful delivery of the first electric vehicles assembled in the Kingdom.

The high-level talks, led by Mr. Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD’s Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, centred on scaling production capacity to meet rising domestic demand and the upcoming launch of a major "Car Centre" in Phnom Penh, which BYD expects to be the country's largest.

BYD confirmed that the first units assembled at its new Cambodian plant have been officially delivered to customers, marking a shift from import-reliance to local manufacturing.

Citing strong market reception, Liu indicated that the group plans to ramp up assembly volumes and broaden its local supply chain.

Discussions moved beyond passenger cars to explore the feasibility of deploying broader EV solutions to address Cambodia's socio-economic and public transport needs.

H.E. Sun Chanthol, who also serves as First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), characterised the modern assembly plant as a "new source of pride" for the nation’s industrial sector. 

He reaffirmed the Royal Government’s commitment to providing regulatory facilitation to ensure operational success.

"The CDC remains ready to provide all necessary support to ensure business operations proceed smoothly," the Deputy Prime Minister said, citing the country's political stability and pro-investment climate as core pillars for the partnership.

The meeting underscores Cambodia’s ambition to transform into a regional hub for green technology and automotive production. 

BYD executives noted they are actively promoting Cambodia’s investment potential to their global network of business partners, potentially signaling further entries from the EV secondary supply chain.

The shift toward local assembly aligns with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s broader strategy to modernise its manufacturing base and reduce carbon emissions through the adoption of electric mobility.

By K. Rithy Reak