, three Southeast Asian countries – the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia – are competing to host an electric vehicle assembly plant for BYD, the world’s second-largest EV maker after Tesla.
The carmaker’s representatives had already looked at possible factory sites in the Philippines during a visit last year and may make a decision in the second quarter of this year, said Rodolfo, who also heads the board of investments. as well as access to raw materials for producing batteries. These efforts are said to convince BYD to set up shop in Indonesia rather than expanding in a neighbouring country like Thailand.first Southeast Asian EV plant there
Indonesia and the Philippines together account for almost half of the world’s nickel reserves, making them a good option for producers of EVs and batteries where the metal is key raw material. “We’re not a low-cost destination, but we are a destination for companies who are looking for solutions for their net zero carbon commitments,” said Rodolfo.