BYD’s Han electric car, pictured here at the 2021 Shanghai auto show, is one of the most popular new energy vehicles in China.
Evelyn Cheng | CNBC
BEIJING — Chinese electric car company BYD said on Friday that it launched its flagship Han sedan in the United Arab Emirates this week.
It was not immediately clear when deliveries would begin. BYD’s local website showed that the company is also offering its ATTO 3 for sale in the UAE.
The news reflects another push by Chinese businesses into the Middle East, while geopolitical tensions have made it difficult for companies to enter the United States or expand in Europe. Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia have multi-year plans to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
In June, Chinese electric car startup Nio announced that it had received $738.5 million from a fund owned by the government of Abu Dhabi.
BYD said it opened a showroom in Dubai Festival City as part of a collaboration with Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company.
In March, a press release said Al-Futtaim would represent BYD in the UAE, the first country in the Middle East to have BYD cars on the road.
The release presented plans to launch four car models – fully electric and hybrid – into the market before the end of the year.
BYD grew rapidly in China’s domestic car market and gradually expanded its commercial vehicle business overseas.
The company launched the Han sedan in China 2020.
The car, which comes in hybrid and pure electric versions powered by BYD’s “blade battery,” jumped into the top 10 best-selling new energy vehicles in China in 2020, according to data from the China Passenger Automobile Association late Tuesday. The new energy category includes electric and plug-in hybrid energy sources.
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