BYD and TIM to connect 200,000 Brazilian-built cars by eSIM

BYD and TIM to connect 200,000 Brazilian-built cars by eSIM

9 November 2026: BYD will fit TIM Brasil eSIM connectivity to the light vehicles it builds in Brazil, with more than 200,000 cars to be connected over the next 24 months, the two companies announced on Monday. A second agreement has TIM building a dedicated 4G and 5G network across BYD's factory complex in Camaçari, in the state of Bahia.

Not yet independently verified. This rests on three Brazilian trade outlets that quote a joint statement; we did not find the statement on a TIM or BYD page. No car functions, schedule or price have been published. We will update this when it can be confirmed, and remove this note.

What the eSIM is for

According to the trade reports, the embedded SIM lets digital services in the car be switched on remotely after sale. That is the mechanism behind most connected-car features, from remote diagnostics and software updates to paid subscriptions.

What it will carry in BYD's case is still open. Tecnoblog notes that BYD has not named the functions, the models, the timetable, the data plans, whether connectivity is bundled or sold by subscription, or whether cars already on the road will get it. Alexandre Baldy, BYD's senior vice-president in Brazil, spoke of services that keep evolving after purchase.

TIM is not new to this. The operator says its Internet of Vehicles business already connects more than 630,000 vehicles, and Tecnoblog reports that it supplies 4G eSIMs for Stellantis models including the Jeep Renegade and Compass and the Fiat Toro.

A private network across the factory

The plant agreement covers seven outdoor coverage points and 63 pieces of network equipment spread through the sheds and operating areas of the complex. It is meant to connect staff, visitors and industrial systems, and to connect the cars themselves while they are being built, which allows software and connectivity to be tested on the line.

The complex opened in October 2025 and covers 4.6 million square metres, which makes it BYD's largest industrial site outside China. Alberto Griselli, chief executive of TIM Brasil, tied the deal to the digitisation of industry and to connectivity in the car. Neither side gave a contract value or a completion date for the network.

What it means for fleets and dealers in Brazil

For a fleet buying BYD cars in Brazil, a factory-fitted eSIM is what makes telematics possible without aftermarket hardware, but only once BYD says which data and controls it will expose. Until then the practical point is the SIM provider: connectivity in these cars will run on TIM's network.

We list 14 BYD models across our electric cars and plug-in hybrid categories, and BYD among our car makers.

Sources

• Mobile Time: BYD and TIM connectivity partnership, 9 November 2026, 9 November 2026
• Teletime: TIM to connect cars and BYD factory with 5G, 9 November 2026, 9 November 2026
• Tecnoblog: BYD will connect 200,000 cars in Brazil with TIM chips, 10 November 2026, 10 November 2026