BYD's Southeast Asian partner explains what helped the Chinese EV brand break out overseas: Putting the steering wheel on the right side

(Credit: Courtesy of Sime Darby Motors)

BYD is making inroads into Southeast Asia. The Chinese company was Singapore’s second best-selling car brand, behind Toyota, in the first half of the year. In neighboring Malaysia, BYD is the most popular EV brand and among the top 10 most popular car brands overall. 

But according to the Chinese brand’s distributor in the region, BYD’s success is due to its quick adaptation to new markets, with one change in particular making the difference.