PHOTO/VIDEO We visited one of the world's largest factories, with China's largest test site
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- BYD's Zhengzhou factory, one of the world's largest, employs over 80,000 workers and is a major hub for the Chinese electric vehicle giant.
- The company demonstrated the capabilities of its U8 SUV by driving it up and down a massive, artificially created sand dune, showcasing its off-road prowess.
- BYD has surpassed Tesla in electric vehicle sales, highlighting its significant growth and dominance in the global EV market.
As journalists for Veฤernji List, we were granted exclusive access to BYD's sprawling manufacturing complex in Zhengzhou, a testament to China's industrial might. This facility, akin to Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant in scale and importance, is a powerhouse employing over 80,000 individuals.
What Volkswagen is in Wolfsburg, BYD is in Zhengzhou.
Our visit coincided with a dramatic demonstration of the BYD U8 SUV's off-road capabilities. Against the backdrop of a desert landscape, albeit an artificial one constructed by BYD itself, the vehicle conquered a massive sand dune. The sheer scale of this man-made desert and the vehicle's effortless ascent and descent underscored BYD's engineering prowess and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive performance.
The Chinese giant โ now well known in Croatia too โ employs more than 80,000 workers in that factory alone.
It's no surprise that BYD has recently eclipsed Tesla to become the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer. This factory tour offered a firsthand glimpse into the operational scale and technological ambition driving this remarkable success. While Western media often focuses on Tesla, the reality on the ground in China reveals a formidable competitor whose manufacturing capacity and innovation are reshaping the global automotive landscape. This story is not just about a car; it's about the ascent of a Chinese industrial giant.
BYD in China built the largest artificial sand dune in the world.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
