BYD will begin delivering its electric crossovers to Norway in the third quarter of this year, the company said on Wednesday, the latest example of a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker entering the European auto market.

Why is this important: The move is BYD’s first major foray into the European passenger electric vehicle market. Prior to the announcement, the company focused primarily on buses in the area.

• The Chinese electric vehicle giant will have to face off against big names in the auto industry including Volkswagen and Tesla while competing with other Chinese electric vehicle makers including Nio and Xpeng Motors who have a head start to establish a market presence.

Details: BYD said on Wednesday that it will start shipping the first 100 of its Tang electric sport utility vehicles to Norway at the end of this month. and start deliveries in the third quarter.

• The electric vehicle maker plans to deliver a total of 1,500 Tang SUVs to the country by the end of the year. The all-electric seven-seater crossover is priced at NOK 599,900 ($ 72,200), about 50% more than its price in China, and offers a range of 505 km (314 miles) on a single charge.
• BYD cars to be sold by Norwegian car dealership RSA, the Chinese auto giant mentionned Last year.

The context: Norway, where electric vehicles explained more than 50% of car sales last year, has become a testing ground for Chinese automakers keen to take advantage of the fierce but rapidly growing European electric vehicle market.

• Volkswagen’s partner SAIC was the first Chinese automaker to enter Norway, and would have sold 3,720 electric vehicles in the country last year (in Chinese).
• Xpeng followed suit in September. Norwegian car dealers have handed over 300 of the company’s G3 electric crossovers to their customers in the first three months of 2021.
• Nio announced last month that it would establish its direct sales and service model in Europe by opening its first flagship showroom and starting delivery of vehicles to Norwegian customers in the third quarter of this year.
• Europe last year became the world’s largest market for electric passenger vehicles, registering nearly 1.37 million electric cars compared to 1.27 million in China, according to figures from the EV Sales Blog.
• Volkswagen, owned by Volkswagen, was the best-selling automaker in Norway last year, delivering 9,227 electric vehicles to the country, followed by Tesla with sales of 7,770 Model 3 sedans, reported CNN.