BYD to create 10,000 jobs with its new plant in Mexico

[Harley Lover]

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21June, 2024 - BYD plans to build a plant in Mexico where it will create around 10,000 jobs, which would put it on par with some of the country's largest OEMs. The electric vehicle giant is in final negotiations for the location of the facility, and an official announcement is expected in the coming months, according to Jorge Vallejo, BYD's General Manager in Mexico. 

 

A plant of that size would employ more people than the facilities of some other automakers in the country, such as Audi. Volkswagen's Puebla plant, the largest in the country, employs 6,100 assembly-line workers and 5,000 supervisory employees, along with thousands of people who handle parts assembly.

The car brand is on track to sell 50,000 units in the country this year. [b]Last month, BYD launched its Shark hybrid truck in Mexico[/b], a further sign of the country's growing importance to the company.

 

Looks like BYD is full speed ahead for Mexico and South America, regardless of whether it can import into the U.S.. 

 

Full story:  https://mexico-now.com/byd-to-create-10000-jobs-with-its-new-plant-in-mexico/

[Harley Lover]

I decided to find info on the Shark Hybrid truck mentioned in the article, it's not what I expected (some Subaru Brat type thing), it's a real BOF truck:

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Hybridization is rapidly spreading across pickup truck lines across the world and across segments, from the little Ford Maverick to the big F-150 and Toyota Tundra. Plug-ins are coming up, too, with the Ramcharger and the Jeep Gladiator 4xe on the horizon. Now you'll also find a plug-in hybrid powertrain in the new BYD Shark, the Chinese pickup truck that's headed for Mexico this year, and it has some intriguing specifications.

The truck is conventional in the sense that it has a body-on-frame chassis with a longitudinally-mounted engine; in this case a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder (though BYD doesn't explicitly state whether it's a gas or diesel engine on its consumer site). But it starts differing from there. It has double-wishbone independent suspension at all four corners. And the engine is only coupled to the front motor, with a separate motor providing drive power for the rear. It seems it operates generally like a series hybrid, though it's possible the engine can provide some direct power for the front axle if needed. Front unit output is rated at 228 horsepower, and the rear at 201 horsepower, and BYD combines those for 430 horsepower total output. BYD also estimates a run to 62 mph at 5.7 seconds.

Pricing is fairly competitive, if perhaps on the higher end for the midsize truck segment in Mexico. Converted to U.S. dollars, the BYD Shark has base price of $53,948. For reference, the Ford Ranger starts around $49,000 and the Toyota Tacoma around $46,000 (in Mexico, converted to U.S. dollars).

Edited June 21, 2024 by Harley Lover
https://www.autoblog.com/2024/05/15/byd-shark-phev-pickup-truck-heads-to-mexico/

[jpd80]

The Shark is fitted with a relatively small 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but it is paired with two electric motors – divided between front and rear axles – for a combined power output of "more than" 316kW.
 

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2025-byd-shark-phev-ute-revealed/

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, jpd80 said:

The Shark is fitted with a relatively small 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but it is paired with two electric motors – divided between front and rear axles – for a combined power output of "more than" 316kW.
 

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2025-byd-shark-phev-ute-revealed/

Interesting setup, but a highly strung 1.5 being asked to haul all of that around? Doesn't seem like a very durable powertrain to me. 

[jpd80]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

Interesting setup, but a highly strung 1.5 being asked to haul all of that around? Doesn't seem like a very durable powertrain to me. 

Could be but searching the internet, there was a post on a New Zealand site, maybe we allow

a bit for optimistic promotion on the one below but it does give us some color on series/parallel

hybrid set up which is probably where the PHEV “Super Hybrid” gets its big power numbers..

 

If this kind of hybriding works, then maybe this is the future of larger pickups and Utilities,

have batteries and electric motors do more of the power work while the small turbo gas engine

acts like a range extender / run flat protection. I know I haven said that right but hoping that

you understand what I’m thinking…

 

https://www.ebbett.co.nz/offers/byd-shark-register-your-interest#:~:text=The plug-in hybrid powertrain,to-load capability and AWD.

 

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The plug-in hybrid powertrain also referred to as the "Super Hybrid Ute", with DMO (dual-mode off-road), offers a series/parallel setup for up to 500hp/900Nm and a range of 900-1000km. With an 18.3kWh Blade battery pack, EV range reaches 80-100km. Standard features include vehicle-to-load capability and AWD.

 

Edited June 28, 2024 by jpd80

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, jpd80 said:

Could be but searching the internet, there was a post on a New Zealand site, maybe we allow

a bit for optimistic promotion on the one below but it does give us some color on series/parallel

hybrid set up which is probably where the PHEV “Super Hybrid” gets its big power numbers..

 

If this kind of hybriding works, then maybe this is the future of larger pickups and Utilities,

have batteries and electric motors do more of the power work while the small turbo gas engine

acts like a range extender / run flat protection. I know I haven said that right but hoping that

you understand what I’m thinking…

 

https://www.ebbett.co.nz/offers/byd-shark-register-your-interest#:~:text=The plug-in hybrid powertrain,to-load capability and AWD.

 

 

Ah I see, so with this sort of hybrid setup, you don't really have any of the traditional loads placed on the ICE powertrain that you would on a conventional hybrid setup. Is that correct? Apologies for the misunderstanding on my end. 

[jpd80]

19 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

Ah I see, so with this sort of hybrid setup, you don't really have any of the traditional loads placed on the ICE powertrain that you would on a conventional hybrid setup. Is that correct? Apologies for the misunderstanding on my end. 

Correct, the 1.5 T drives the electrical system so its role is basically charge sustain or provide a certain amount of power to drive the vehicle if and when the battery runs flat. With at least some charge in the battery, full power to Front motor (170 Kw/310 nm) and rear motor (150 Kw/340 nm) which combined makes 320 Kw/650 nm (428 Hp/480 lbft).

 

Its weird but it probably gives buyers the best of both worlds, probably 45 miles of real world electric range which is probably adequate for most commuters that home charge overnight but then also gives around 500 miles of total range, not sure with towing max loads but probably way less of course… For me, the 1.5 gas turbo is a little small but maybe it works just fine for this application.

 

In any regard, I hope this vehicle gives Ford and GM inspiration or at least a target for future products that are not less  compromised than the current crop of full electric vehicles. The smaller battery size is easier to accomodate and far less expensive too…. Maybe easy to reconfigure on C2?

Edited June 29, 2024 by jpd80

[akirby]

On 6/28/2024 at 1:23 AM, DeluxeStang said:

Ah I see, so with this sort of hybrid setup, you don't really have any of the traditional loads placed on the ICE powertrain that you would on a conventional hybrid setup. Is that correct? Apologies for the misunderstanding on my end. 

Like a diesel electric train - the engine generates electricity that drives the electric motors.  In this case it doesn’t need to provide all the power the truck needs - it just extends the range of the batteries.

[DeluxeStang]

3 hours ago, akirby said:

Like a diesel electric train - the engine generates electricity that drives the electric motors.  In this case it doesn’t need to provide all the power the truck needs - it just extends the range of the batteries.

So sort of like the examples we've seen of a gas generator charging an EV/hybrid. The gas generator has nothing to do with the actual propulsion of the vehicle, it's only job is to charge the powertrain that does. 

[jpd80]

In other words, a series hybrid that eliminates direct drive of the gas engine to the wheels.

It’s interesting because as a Kirby says, the gas engine is basically a range extender and normally,

critics would jump in and say no no no, the gas engine must drive the wheels to keep up efficiency. 
DeluxeStang is also correct in that the gasoline engine adding power to the electric side means it can 

be adjusted to run in its most efficient power band avoiding excessively rich fuel mixtures.

This looks like the point where a super hybrid could be based on a BEV design as a kind of reach down

to include an ICE version where long range with little no charging is required (ideal for remote areas)

1.5 ICE Gasoline max output 135 Kw/260 mn or 180 Hp/192 lb ft.

 

New Zealand YouTube review

 

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by jpd80

[jpd80]

I’m going out on a limb here..

If Ford was to create its own super hybrid, it could add either 2.0 EB or 2.0 turbo diesel to the Lightning and achieve a near perfect combination of fuel and electric power…it could also be a brilliant repurposing of the current Lightning once the next Gen BEV F150 arrives…

 

I love how technology develops to a point when manufacturers begin exploring vehicles that were rejected in the past as being inadequate or not appealing to customers. Hopefully, we get to see a new round of hybrids that make a lot of sense to buyers where maybe a full BEV is still seen as compromised..

Edited June 29, 2024 by jpd80

[morgan20]

On 6/21/2024 at 3:03 PM, Harley Lover said:

 

Looks like BYD is full speed ahead for Mexico and South America, regardless of whether it can import into the U.S.. 

 

Full story:  https://mexico-now.com/byd-to-create-10000-jobs-with-its-new-plant-in-mexico/

 

Yea, Southeast Asia too. BYD and other Chinese automakers are taking away market share from Japanese automakers in Thailand. Ford is also on the losing end there. 

 

Full story: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/business/chinese-electric-vehicles-thailand.html

[Sherminator98]

Mexico is part of NAFTA and they are beholden to what the US and Canada want to a lesser degree. 

[twintornados]

On 8/1/2024 at 11:59 AM, silvrsvt said:

Mexico is part of NAFTA USMCA and they are beholden to what the US and Canada want to a lesser degree. 

Fixed

[Harley Lover]

On 8/1/2024 at 11:59 AM, silvrsvt said:

Mexico is part of NAFTA and they are beholden to what the US and Canada want to a lesser degree. 

 

Only for exports to the US and Canada. To the extent this announced plant targets Mexico and South America (which was stated in the OP), they have zero say.