Sixt has signed a deal to take delivery of thousands of fully electric, BYD Atto 3 electric family SUVs.
In an initial step, Sixt will order several thousand of the vehicles from the Chinese brand, the first of which will be available for its customers in the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands by the end of this year.
This initial order forms the first step in an agreement which could see the purchase of about 100,000 additional EVs over the next six years.
Sixt will be the first car rental company in Europe to offer BYD’s vehicles and the two firms will also explore potential co-operation opportunities in different regions around the world.
According to Sixt, its fleet in Europe will be 70 to 90 percent electrified by 2030, covering a wide range of manufacturers and models.
Michael Shu, General Manager and Managing Director, BYD Europe and International Cooperation Division said: “We are delighted to start our cooperation with Sixt, the car rental company with the world’s fastest-growing brand value, and a very important key partner to BYD as we take our first steps into the rental market.
“Our shared vision allows us to build our green dreams together, initially starting in Europe.”
Vinzenz Pflanz, Chief Business Officer, Sixt SE said, “With over one million units produced from January to August 2022, BYD is the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer in the area of eMobility.
“The agreement with BYD is an important milestone to deliver on our promise of putting significantly more e-cars onto the street.”