BYD (HKG:1211, SHE:002594) said its European operations would require three vehicle assembly plants and one battery factory in the long run to drive growth as planned and comply with the bloc's regulations, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing the company's special adviser for the region, Alfredo Altavilla.

Speaking at an event in Turin, Altavilla said the Chinese automaker is currently kicking off production in Hungary and plans to finalize a second factory site by year-end.

The automaker is looking to buy existing facilities, preferably in Spain and France, that could suit its operations and refurbish them instead of building a plant from the ground up, the report said.

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