Massive Arrival of Chinese Electric Cars at Sixt

Sixt is ready to order more than 100,000 electric cars from the Chinese manufacturer BYD.

As it finalizes the details of its expansion in Europe, Chinese manufacturer BYD has secured a large contract with Sixt. By 2028, more than 100,000 cars could be delivered to the German rental company. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

At this stage, BYD has received an initial firm order for “thousands” of electric models. The vehicles will be gradually delivered to Sixt starting at the end of the year. Subsequently, the agreement provides for the delivery of approximately 100,000 additional cars by 2028.

The first model supplied to Sixt will be the BYD Atto 3. This fully electric SUV has dimensions roughly comparable to the Peugeot 3008. It will be among the many Chinese vehicles showcased at the Paris Motor Show, from October 17 to 23.

BYD vehicles in service in France and elsewhere

BYD models from Sixt will initially be available in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France. They will complement an already existing offer that includes several electric models (Fiat 500, Peugeot e-208, DS 3 e-Tense, Skoda Enyaq, Tesla Model 3, etc.). “The fleet of SIXT in Europe will be electrified to 70-90% by 2030, encompassing a wide range of manufacturers and models,” the company states in its press release.

Before Sixt, Hertz chose to equip itself with Chinese electric vehicles from Aiways as early as 2020. However, the deal involved the delivery of only 500 cars, a volume negligible compared to the tens of thousands of BYD cars ordered by Sixt.

Still relatively unknown on the Old Continent, BYD is a major player in Chinese automotive industry. In September alone, the manufacturer sold over 200,000 electric and plug-in hybrid cars. This represents a 183% increase compared to September 2021 and a new record for BYD, which is on track to become a global giant.

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