BYD has outlined plans for its fourth electric-vehicle plant in Southeast Asia, selecting Perak, Malaysia, for a 600,000-square-metre assembly site that will build cars from completely knocked-down kits beginning in 2026. The project extends a regional network that already includes an operational factory in Thailand and two facilities under construction in Cambodia and Indonesia. At home, the Shenzhen-based carmaker is investing 5 billion yuan (US$700 million) in a public off-road and racing complex in Zhengzhou as part of a push into the premium segment. The venue will serve as a showcase for Yangwang models priced above US$200,000, underscoring BYD’s effort to shift its image beyond mass-market taxis and ride-hailing fleets. The company’s technology footprint is also widening: its advanced-driver-assistance system gained 228,215 additional users in July, lifting the installed base to more than 1.2 million vehicles. The expansion comes against a backdrop of robust overseas demand for Chinese electric cars, with national exports jumping 45 percent in July to 206,409 units, according to industry data. Competition at home remains intense. NIO shares rose 14 percent after the firm cut prices on a refreshed luxury SUV, while SAIC Motor and Huawei opened pre-sales for their jointly developed H5 electric sedan, starting at CNY169,800 (US$23,689). The new offerings add pressure in a market that is rapidly crowding both at the high end and in the value segment.