Attending dealers have a taste of Shengzhou snacks. [Photo/Tide News]

BYD, the world's largest electric vehicle maker, held its Americas Dealer Conference in Shengzhou city, Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, on April 25, welcoming over 170 foreign guests.

Visitors from Uruguay, Brazil, and other countries test-drove BYD's latest Denza Z9  GT on rural roads in Changle and Shihuang towns, sampled Longjing tea beside mountain tea gardens, experienced local folk arts, and watched traditional Yueju Opera performances.

"This car drives comfortably, has a spacious interior, and excellent noise reduction," said Manuel Guelfi, a dealer from Uruguay, after test-driving the Z9 GT. Brazilian guest Alexandre Friedrich praised the "spectacular scenery", capturing photos and videos along the route.

The event highlights Shengzhou's rising international profile, driven by its deepening partnership with BYD. In 2023, Shengzhou and BYD signed a permanent strategic cooperation agreement, making the city home to BYD's largest battery and energy storage manufacturing base in East China.

BYD's Shengzhou New Energy Battery Base, with a total investment of 13 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), has completed its first phase and is rapidly expanding. A regional auto culture experience center is also under construction.

Since 2023, Shengzhou has attracted 133 major projects totaling 84.5 billion yuan, including 13 new energy vehicle and parts ventures. The city's streamlined "one-stop" government services and rapid project approvals — some completed within eight months — have earned it a reputation for efficiency.

BYD's new energy vehicles now serve over 400 cities across 100 countries and regions. In the first quarter of 2025, BYD led battery electric vehicle sales in Brazil and plug-in hybrid sales in Colombia, strengthened by its technical edge, localized strategies, and broad product offerings.