Brazil. BYD has acquired the rights to a lithium deposit in Brazil, thus securing the supply of this key mineral for battery manufacturing.
The operation includes 852 hectares in Coronel Murta, within the Jequitinhonha Valley, known as the Brazilian "Lithium Valley", and a new production plant.
With this acquisition, BYD strengthens its vertical integration strategy, controlling everything from the extraction of raw materials to the manufacture of electric vehicles. The company already has a production plant 824 kilometers from the field, which will optimize logistics and reduce costs in battery production. The new factory will have the capacity to assemble 150,000 electric vehicles annually.
In parallel, BYD announced advances in the production of solid-state batteries, a technology that promises greater safety, energy density and durability. This development, presented at the China Solid State Battery Innovation and Development Forum, positions the company at the forefront of the sector, in competition with companies such as Hyundai and Anthro Energy in the United States.
So far, the U.S. government has not issued an official response on BYD's expansion in South America. However, the control of a strategic resource such as lithium by a Chinese company in the region could generate tensions in the framework of the trade dispute between the two powers.
The acquisition reinforces BYD's position as a key player in the transition to electromobility, but could also intensify global competition for dominance of the battery and electric vehicle market.
