Last week, BYD Italy joined the association representing foreign carmakers in Italy to deepen its foothold in the country. With a booming 40% global sales jump in 2024, new European production plans and heavyweight hires, BYD is positioning its EVs as mass-market favourites—while Italian tyremaker Pirelli navigate its own China ties
UNRAE Breakthrough. Last week, BYD Italy became a member of UNRAE—the association representing foreign car manufacturers in Italy—to strengthen its market presence in the country.
- As Bloomberg recently noted, BYD aims to make its latest EV the mass-market choice across Europe.
Sales electrified. In 2024, BYD sold over 4.2 million vehicles—a 40% rise on 2023’s 3 million—and expanded its Italian share to 1.4% in just eight months.
- The company now aims to take a leading role in alternative-propulsion vehicles globally.
- BYD confirmed plans for a new Hungarian factory and R&D centre focused on automotive innovation.
- Local production will feed European markets directly, slashing delivery times and costs.
Power plays. To supercharge its European push, BYD recruited several Italian managers, including Alfredo Altavilla, former ITA Airways chair and FCA veteran, as special adviser for Europe.
- It has appointed Maria Grazia Davino, former chief of Stellantis UK, to lead its operations in a group of European countries, including Germany.
- Alessandro Grosso and Alberto De Aza, ex-Stellantis, to head Italian and Spanish sales.
Tyre tussle. China’s influence in the Italian automotive sector extends to tyre giant Pirelli, which is majority-owned by state group Sinochem.
- Executive Vice-Chair Marco Tronchetti Provera accused Sinochem of breaching governance agreements in an attempt to seize control.
- US export restrictions under the Trump administration have complicated Pirelli’s access to American markets.
- Last week, Tronchetti Provera struck a conciliatory tone: “We’re on the right track with Sinochem governance talks, and I expect a positive outcome,” he said.
