Stellantis Inflamed, Dealers In Germany Are Busy Selling BYD

Booth BYD at the IAA 2023 Munich exhibition. (Photo: BYD Global)

JAKARTA The fierce battle in the global automotive market is heating up. This time, a manufacturer from China, BYD, reportedly made the parent company of a number of Stellantis car manufacturers feel uncomfortable at home, Germany. The reason is, a number of dealers who previously only sold Stellantis cars have now started to look at BYD and sell them at their outlets.

Citing Carscoop, Wednesday, September 24, this condition is increasingly attracting attention because the expansion of BYD in Europe is led by two former top brass of Stellantis, namely Maria Grazia Davino and Lars Bialkowski. Davino, who now serves as Regional Director of BYD Europe, and Bialkowski, Director of BYD Germany, is accused of being the mastermind behind the defections of dealers.

However, Davino denied the allegations. He said the dealers who contacted them first, not the other way around. According to him, this is natural because dealers see great potential offered by BYD. In line with that, Bialkowski added that the dealer's decision was a natural step because BYD promised profitable business growth opportunities.

Facts on the ground show that BYD's growth in Germany is indeed very explosive. Although as of last August their sales were less than 8,600 units, the number of BYD dealers has increased rapidly. Of only 26 dealers a few weeks ago, now it has reached more than 50, and the target is 120 dealers by the end of this year. In fact, BYD has ambitions to have 300 dealer locations by 2026.

However, this flash expansion is not without challenges. One dealer expressed concern that this too fast network growth was unsustainable. The report also states that most BYD sales come from companies, such as taxi fleets or rental companies, not from private buyers.

Even so, BYD remains optimistic. Davino claims demand for BYD cars is much greater than they can fulfill. Bialkowski also stated an ambitious target to sell 50,000 vehicles in Germany as soon as possible.