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BYD Vs Tesla: The World’s Top EV Maker Enters Cyprus—And It’s Just The Beginning

by News Editor

April 15, 2025

The electric vehicle giant that dethroned Tesla in global sales is officially entering the Cypriot market. BYD—short for “Build Your Dreams”—has tapped Alpan Group, a subsidiary of Sfakianakis SA, as its exclusive distributor on the island, marking another step in its fast-paced global expansion.

A Strategic Partner With Local Muscle

Alpan Group is no stranger to scale. As the exclusive importer of Samsung smartphones and major appliance brands like Kenwood, DeLonghi, Braun, and Sage, the company already commands a significant share of the Cypriot tech retail space. Through its chain of nine Electroline stores, Alpan has built deep local infrastructure, while holding an impressive 45% of the island’s mobile market via Samsung.

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In late 2023, Alpan ventured into long-term vehicle leasing through its subsidiary Executive Lease—signaling early interest in the mobility sector. Since October 2024, Alpan has been a fully owned arm of Sfakianakis SA, one of Greece’s most powerful commercial groups, with operations spanning 14 countries in Southeastern and Central Europe and a 2024 turnover of €700 million.

Commenting on the BYD deal, the President and CEO of both Alpan and Sfakianakis noted their ambition to become a driving force in the region’s shift to electric mobility, promising to bring Cypriot drivers closer to smart, sustainable transport.

The Brand That Overtook Tesla

Founded in 1994 in Shenzhen by tech entrepreneur Wang Chuanfu, BYD started out as a battery manufacturer. Fast forward three decades, and it’s now a global EV heavyweight, producing electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles across six continents and selling in over 400 cities worldwide.

The numbers tell the story: BYD sold 4.27 million vehicles in 2024, a 29% jump year-over-year, with revenue hitting $107 billion—surpassing Tesla’s $97.7 billion. And the momentum isn’t slowing: BYD is projected to sell 5.5 million vehicles in 2025, with 800,000 destined for markets outside China.

Building Roots In Europe

To sidestep EU tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles—currently 27% for BYD imports—BYD is building its first European manufacturing facility in Hungary, set to open in 2025. A second factory is also under consideration, underscoring BYD’s long-term vision for the European market.

As Cyprus gets ready to welcome one of the world’s most advanced EV makers, the local landscape for electric mobility is about to change—and Alpan Group is placing itself in the driver’s seat.

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Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

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Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.