Runner Group Partners with BYD to Supply, Manufacture EVs in Bangladesh

Runner Automobiles PLC, a subsidiary of the publicly listed Runner Group, has signed a supply and manufacturing agreement with BYD Auto Industry Company, a leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, to supply and produce BYD vehicles in Bangladesh.

The information was disclosed in a statement submitted to the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) on Tuesday (March 24). The announcement also had a positive impact on the stock market. According to DSE data, the share price of Runner Automobiles rose by approximately 10 percent to Tk 37.50, up from Tk 34.10 in the previous trading session.

According to the disclosure, the agreement was approved at a meeting of the company’s Board of Directors held on March 20. The meeting also reviewed the company’s current business conditions.

The statement noted that this partnership could mark a significant milestone for the country’s automobile sector. It is expected to create opportunities for expanding local production of electric vehicles and facilitating technology transfer. Considering BYD’s global reputation in EV manufacturing, the Board expressed optimism about the positive impact of this strategic collaboration.

It is noteworthy that BYD officially began selling electric vehicles in Bangladesh in 2024. Since then, CG-Runner Bangladesh Limited, a concern of Runner Group, has been serving as its distributor. Earlier, in 2000, the group started manufacturing motorcycles at its own factory in Bangladesh, establishing itself as a leading motorcycle producer and marketer in the country. Its production facility in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, has an annual capacity of approximately 100,000 motorcycles, producing models with 80–165cc engines, including scooters.

Under the new agreement with the Chinese EV giant, the group is now set to manufacture and supply electric vehicles (EVs) in Bangladesh. In March 2025, Runner Group Chairman Hafizur Rahman Khan announced the plan to produce electric vehicles in the country through a ‘Master Supply and Manufacture’ agreement with BYD.

DBTech/MAR/EK/OR