<article><p class="lead">Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD Auto is producing around 1.4GWh/month of batteries from its three factories. </p><p>BYD's factories in Huizhou and Shenzhen have capacity of 2GWh/yr and 14GWh/yr respectively, while its <a href="https://metals.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/1725307">Qinghai factory</a>, is expected to reach a capacity of 12GWh/yr in 2019.</p><p>BYD is to build more factories in 2019-20. It has started site construction of a factory in Chongqing and a plant in Xi'an, with its capacity reaching 40GWh/yr in 2019 and rising to 60GWh/yr in 2020. </p><p>As one of the world's largest EV producers, BYD is expanding its capacity and has been working with raw material producers and automotive manufacturers in the past few years. </p><p>The firm in November signed a supply agreement to <a href="https://metals.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/1792287">buy lithium-ion battery cathode materials</a> from China's Beijing Easpring Materials Technology. BYD and Changan Auto in July signed a strategic co-operation agreement to form a joint venture and develop the power battery industry in Chongqing city. </p><p>The firm's sales of all-electric and hybrid cars reached 113,669 units in 2017 and it is on target to sell 200,000 units this year. It sold 27,667 EVs in October and 171,085 units during January-October. </p><p>BYD had a battery capacity of 16GWh by the end of 2017, including 6GWh for lithium-ion ternary batteries and 10GWh for lithium iron phosphate batteries.</p></article>
