BYD is betting on high-speed shipping to penetrate the European market economy

The Chinese company BYD, the largest producer of electric cars in the world, is preparing to invest about two billion euros (about 2.3 billion dollars) to expand the high-speed charging network in Europe, in a move that reflects its bet on technology as a means of seizing a larger share of the European market at the expense of traditional companies, according to a report by the British newspaper “Financial Times”.

The company plans to deploy an infrastructure that supports “flash charging” technology, which allows cars to be charged within five minutes, with this technology gradually extending to its various models designated for the European market in the coming years.

The Financial Times quoted Stella Lee, BYD’s chief executive officer of international operations, as saying during the inauguration of the company’s first flash charging station in the United Kingdom, “It’s a lot of money, because the cost of each station is approximately half a million pounds sterling (about 635 thousand dollars).” “First, we need to build a very strong infrastructure network,” she added.

The newspaper explained that the cost of one station amounts to about 580,000 euros (about 670,000 dollars), while the company aims to operate 20,000 flash chargers in China by the end of the year, in addition to 3,000 stations in Europe by 2027, including 600 stations in the United Kingdom.

Bet on removing the “last barrier”

The success of this strategy depends on BYD’s ability to accelerate the pace of deploying charging stations, as the company believes that charging speed still represents one of the most prominent factors limiting the spread of electric cars among consumers.

Stella Lee said, according to the Financial Times, that flash charging technology will remove the “final barrier” to consumers’ transition to electric cars, despite some competitors’ skepticism about the company’s ability to deploy this infrastructure at the required speed.

BYD vehicles need the latest generation of batteries to take full advantage of the new charging technology.

The newspaper pointed out that the Z9 GT model, belonging to the luxury brand Denza, which is coming at a price starting at 115,000 euros ($132,000), can charge 70% of the battery within five minutes, and reach an almost full charge within 12 minutes, even at temperatures reaching minus 30 degrees Celsius.

The company also intends to provide future Denza models in Europe with this technology, with plans to later transfer it to lower-priced cars in the United Kingdom and other European markets.

Infrastructure and European expansion

Regarding the obstacles facing the implementation of these plans, Bono Gee, head of BYD’s business in the United Kingdom, said, “The challenge is not in establishing the stations, but in how quickly we can obtain approvals from local councils,” adding: “We can expand very quickly.”

The Financial Times noted that this step brings to mind Tesla’s strategy, whose investments in the Supercharger network contributed to enhancing its sales of electric cars. These stations allow adding a range of up to 321 kilometers in just 15 minutes of charging.

Stella confirmed to me that the company’s flash charging stations will not add additional pressure on the electricity networks, explaining that they will rely on storage batteries at the station sites that are charged during the night hours when costs are lower.

The chief executive officer of international operations at BYD said that the company will invest more in battery storage, and “this means that wherever we go, we will not add any burden to the electricity grid.”

Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, reported by the Financial Times, indicate that BYD’s share in the European Union market has risen to 1.9% during the first four months of 2026, compared to 0.8% a year ago. In the United Kingdom, the company’s share reached 3.4%, ahead of the French “Renault” and the Swedish “Volvo”.

The Chinese company also launched the “Dolphin G” plug-in hybrid model, as the first car designed specifically for Europe without being launched in the Chinese market.

Stella Lee reviewed the company’s future ambitions by saying, “This is the beauty of BYD. I guarantee you that no company has a car that can jump and dance, and no company has a car that can swim in water.”