BYD Auto was founded in January 2003 by BYD owner Wang Chuanfu, following BYD's acquisition of Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile. The first car designed by BYD, the BYD F3, entered production in 2005. BYD started producing its first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the BYD F3DM in 2008, followed by its first production battery electric vehicle, the BYD e6 in 2009. In March 2022, BYD ended production of purely internal combustion engined cars to focus on new energy vehicles. The company sells its vehicles under the main BYD brand, and sells high-end vehicles under its Denza, Yangwang and Fangchengbao brands.
Following a series of decline in sales and profit, BYD Auto has experienced substantial sales growth since 2020 due to the increasing market share of new energy vehicles in China. In the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD was the top-selling battery electric vehicle manufacturer in the world ahead of Tesla.[8] BYD was also the best-selling car brand in China in 2023, overtaking Volkswagen which held the title since the liberalisation of the Chinese automotive industry.[9] Since 2021, the company is expanding sales of passenger cars into overseas markets in Europe, Southeast Asia, Oceania and South America.
The BYD stand at the 2009 Central China High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen
BYD Company founder Wang Chuanfu founded BYD Auto in 2003 after acquiring and renaming a dwindling small automotive manufacturing company, Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile, from the state-owned defense company Norinco in January 2003. The company was acquired for HK$269 million in exchange for a 77 percent stake, shortly after BYD raised HK$1.6 billion on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in July 2002.[14][15][16][17] The acquisition was met with disapproval from shareholders, as the plan was not disclosed in the prospectus.[18] The purchase gave BYD access to car manufacturing technology and an automobile production license, as Qinchuan had been manufacturing cars since 1987.[19][20] With BYD's foundation in battery manufacturing, Wang acquired Qinchuan with the vision of developing battery-powered electric vehicles.[21] At the time of the acquisition, Qinchuan was producing a small car called the QCJ7181 Flyer, which was rebranded to BYD Flyer from 2005. Limited capacity at the former Qinchuan manufacturing plant in Xi'an, Shaanxi prompted BYD to construct a new manufacturing plant in the Xi'an Development Zone within the city.[22]
During its early years, BYD Auto achieved growth by reverse engineering competitor's products and supplier parts and keeping strong control over costs. The first mass-produced passenger car from BYD, the BYD F3 compact sedan as well as the later added F0 are considered copies of Toyota products.[23]
The first car developed by BYD, codenamed 316, was rejected by dealers due to its poor styling and was scrapped before reaching the market, writing off CN¥100 million of research and development (R&D) expenses as a result.[24] Wang Chuanfu personally smashed the prototype to destroy it.[25] The BYD F3 sedan entered production on April 16, 2005 with an affordable price tag of CN¥73,000 (approximately US$10,000). Bearing resemblance to the Toyota Corolla with a lower price, the F3 quickly gained popularity, becoming a successful model with over 63,000 units sold that year.[22][24] The 100,000th unit rolled off the assembly line on June 18, 2007, just 20 months after production began. Following this success, the larger BYD F6 sedan entered production in August 2007, which was modelled after the Honda Accord.[26][27] Initial BYD cars are equipped with Chinese-built Mitsubishi Motors older engines, but within a few years, BYD Auto created its own engines by improving Mitsubishi Motors engine blueprints.[18][28][29][30]
In 2005, BYD Auto contributed 10 percent to BYD Company's revenue. By 2006, a little over a year since the F3 was launched, BYD Auto's contribution increased to 25 percent. In the first half of 2009, the automotive business for the first time made up more than half of BYD Company's revenue, reaching 55 percent.[14] By 2008, BYD Auto owned two vehicle assembly manufacturing plants in Xi'an and in Shenzhen with a production capacity of 300,000 units per year, an R&D and testing center in Shanghai, and a moulding plant in Beijing.[29]
In 2010, widespread withdrawal of BYD dealerships were reported in large Chinese cities due to excessively rapid expansions, limited model range, and internal competition that presented difficulties for dealers. It was exacerbated by BYD's focus on production capacity over quality. BYD responded by adjusting its annual production target from 800,000 to 600,000 vehicles, but fell short, reaching only 517,000 vehicles that year. In the subsequent three years, BYD shifted its attention to resolving concerns related to quality, dealership channels, and brand promotion.[14]
2006–2020: New energy vehicle efforts
At the 2006 Beijing Auto Show, BYD showcased the battery electric version of the F3, the BYD F3e. The car had an all-electric range of more than 300 km (186 mi), and was planned to be produced within 3 years from 2007. In December 2010, BYD Auto deputy general manager Wang Jianjun confirmed that the company had canceled plans for its production due to the lack of support in charging infrastructure.[31]
The 2008 BYD F3DM, a conversion of the F3, marked the first modern, mass produced plug-in hybrid vehicle globally.
In March 2008, the plug-in hybrid electric version of the BYD F3, the F3DM, was introduced as the world's first production model plug-in hybrid car at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.[32][33] Initially, the F3DM was offered in China as a fleet vehicle for governments, banks and other institutions, until retail sales started in March 2010 when the Chinese government started granting subsidies for new energy vehicles.[34]
In January 2009, BYD introduced its first production battery electric vehicle, the e6 at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.[35] It is powered by a battery pack codenamed "Fe", which provides a claimed electric range of 400 km (249 mi).[36] While plans to sell the vehicle to the general public in the US were shelved, the company sold the e6 in the US in a limited number as a fleet vehicle.[37][38][39]
In 2009, BYD started producing battery electric buses as part of a pilot scheme initiated by the Chinese government.[40] It signed a deal to supply 1,000 BYD K9 electric buses to the Hunan Government in China. The buses have a range of 305 km (190 mi) per charge with a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), charging time of six hours and 50 percent fast charging in 30 minutes.[31]
In 2010, BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd. and Daimler AG, now known as Mercedes-Benz Group AG, formed a 50-50 joint venture named Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology with a brand named Denza to focus on research and development of new energy vehicles. The brand showcased the Denza EV concept at Auto China in April 2012.[41] This joint venture was restructured in 2021.[40]
BYD established the Dynasty Series product line in August 2013 by introducing the plug-in hybrid electric variant of the petrol-engined BYD Surui, the BYD Qin. The Qin replaced the BYD F3DM,[42][43] and became the best-selling plug-in electric vehicle of early 2014.[44]
In November 2016, the company hired Wolfgang Egger as BYD Auto's head of design, who built his career at Alfa Romeo, Audi, and SEAT.[18][45][46] His first creation at BYD was the Dynasty concept, a concept electric SUV that was displayed at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show that previews the design of the second-generation BYD Tang.[47]
In December 2016, BYD signed American actor Leonardo DiCaprio as the brand's global brand ambassador for new energy vehicles.[48]
During the period before 2020, BYD relied on government subsidies to create profit in selling plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. For instance, throughout 2016 the company recouped about US$1 billion in new energy vehicle subsidies toward many of the nearly 100,000 new energy vehicles it sold, more than its CN¥5.1 billion (US$750 million) net profit for that year. It was also equivalent to a little over a fifth of BYD's US$5 billion in revenues from new energy vehicle sales that year.[49] Between 2017 and 2019, BYD was negatively impacted by a reduction of subsidies granted by the Chinese government.[50][51][52][53] Consequently, the company experienced sales slowdown in that period with net profit falling sharply for three consecutive years, especially in 2019, when its parent company net profit was only CN¥1.6 billion. According to Wang Chuanfu, at that time BYD had only one goal, which was to survive.[54]
2020–present: Rapid growth
The BYD Atto 3 / Yuan Plus helped increase the sales of BYDs globally; it is one of the best selling electric cars in Australia.
BYD experienced a substantial surge in vehicle sales from 2020 to 2023. The company sold 3,024,417 vehicles globally in 2023, a seven-fold increase compared to the 2020 figure of 427,302 vehicles. The increase was partly attributed to the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles in China, which accounted for 27.5 percent of vehicle sales in China in 2022, increasing from 5.8 percent in 2020.[55][56] BYD surpassed Tesla as the world's largest plug-in electric vehicle manufacturer by selling 641,000 vehicles in the first half of 2022.[57] BYD ended the production of pure internal combustion engine vehicles in March 2022, redirecting its focus towards new energy vehicles. In September 2022, BYD became the first carmaker in China to build one million new energy vehicles in a single year.[58] On November 24, 2023, BYD became the first company in the world to produce its 6 millionth new energy vehicle.[59]
By 2023, BYD continued to be the world's largest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer and the second-largest battery electric vehicle manufacturer, following Tesla, with global market shares of 21.4 percent and 15 percent, respectively.[60][61] BYD also holds a substantial 36 percent market share in the new energy vehicle segment in China as of September 2023.[62]
BYD introduced its first vehicle equipped with the Blade battery, the BYD Han large sedan in early 2020. The Han went on sale in July 2020 with an option of plug-in hybrid electric (Han DM) and battery electric (Han EV) variants.[63] The most equipped variant of the battery electric variant was claimed to be the fastest electric car in China, while the DM version was the fastest hybrid sedan.[64]
BYD announced its entry to Europe in May 2020, starting with Norway. The first batch of 100 BYD Tang EVs equipped with the Blade battery were sent to Norway in June 2021.[65]
In April 2021, BYD introduced the e-Platform 3.0, a third-generation platform for battery electric vehicles that integrated and standardised core components along with a new body structure, new electrical architecture and operating system.[66] The platform is produced starting with the BYD Dolphin and the BYD Yuan Plus that are announced in August 2021.[67][68] It also established the Ocean Series line of products, which consists of models named after marine animals.[69]
In December 2021, Daimler AG reduced its stake in its joint venture brand with BYD Auto from 50 percent to 10 percent, with BYD Auto controlling 90 percent. BYD refreshed Denza's line-up with the release of the Denza D9 minivan in 2022, followed by the Denza N7 SUV in 2023.[70] In January 2023, BYD established its second premium brand called Yangwang by introducing the Yangwang U8 plug-in hybrid electric large SUV,[71][72] and the Yangwang U9 battery electric supercar.[73] The company further expanded its brand portofolio by introducing the Fangchengbao brand in June 2023, which focuses on off-road vehicles.[74]
2023 BYD Seagull
BYD released its smallest and cheapest battery electric vehicle called the Seagull in April 2023. It features a 4-seater, 5-door configuration in a hatchback body style, while being priced in a segment dominated by smaller 3-door cars. The car became a sales success in China, in 29 November 2023, BYD produced the 200,000th Seagull after only seven months in the market.[75][76]
While celebrating BYD's 5,000,000th new energy vehicle production in August 2023, Wang Chuanfu calls on local Chinese car manufacturers to "unite" to take on foreign manufacturers, responding to the severe price war in the Chinese market throughout 2023. Wang claims that it is "an emotional need for the 1.4 billion Chinese people to see a Chinese brand becoming global," and started a campaign titled "Together, we are Chinese autos". The patriotic call was welcomed by the CEOs of Nio and Li Auto.[77][78]
BYD Auto's original logo was used between 2003 and 2007. According to the company, the blue and white colours represent the sky and the clouds respectively.[82][83] The logo was criticised due to its resemblance to the BMW roundel.[84][85] It was replaced with the logo used by its parent company with the introduction of the BYD F1 (renamed to F0 later).[86]
On 1 January 2021, BYD Auto adopted a new brand logo design. Other BYD businesses retained the older logo.[87]
On 17 February 2022, the logo of BYD Auto was slightly revised with a narrower width to follow graphic design trends, coinciding with the introduction of the new BYD Company logo.[88]
Since the release of the second-generation BYD Tang, BYD Auto started adopting the "Build Your Dreams" identity for the rear badging for its vehicles, replacing the standard oval BYD logo.[89] The badging was retained for export markets until late August 2023, when the company announced that for export markets the badging will be dropped in favour of the three-letter BYD logo due to criticisms.[90][91]
Logo used during 2003–2007
Logo used during 2007–2021
Logo used between 2021–2022 (wider than the current logo)
Current logo (since 2022)
Global expansion
In 2009, BYD started exporting cars to Africa, South America, and the Middle East. At that time, BYD cars competed on price instead of quality.[92] Since 2021, BYD started expanding its global presence rapidly by prioritizing exports of passenger electric vehicle. Beginning in 2022, BYD has committed to producing right-hand drive versions of several battery electric passenger models for exports to LHT countries such as Australia, the UK and Thailand.[93] These include newer models with BYD's third-generation platform (e-Platform 3.0) such as the Atto 3 (the export version of the Yuan Plus), Dolphin and Seal.[94] For the Dolphin, the company had also done an extensive reengineering to ensure the small car would achieve maximum rating in Euro NCAP and Australasian NCAP testing.[95][96]
Throughout 2023, the company exported over 242,766 passenger new energy vehicles, a year-over-year increase of 334 percent.[1] As of 2023, BYD Auto vehicles are sold in over 70 countries around the world.[97]
Europe
In 2015, BYD announced plans to partner with Alexander Dennis to produce all-electric buses for the UK, including London's first all-electric double-decker.[98] By 2023, the partnership had produced 1500 buses.[99]
In May 2020, BYD announced that it would offer passenger vehicles in Europe, starting with Norway. The company chose Norway due to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the country. The first product offered there is the BYD Tang.[100] Prior BYD vehicles offered in Europe are mainly commercial vehicles and fleet-oriented vehicles such as the BYD e6, in low volumes.[101]
In 2022, BYD Auto began selling its passenger vehicles in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium.[102] In Germany and Sweden, the BYD models are sold in cooperation with the Hedin Group.[103] In October 2022, BYD appointed Denzel Group as its distributor in Austria.[103] In March 2023, BYD entered the United Kingdom market by introducing the Atto 3.[104]
BYD will build its first European passenger car factory in Szeged, Hungary, which will build new energy vehicles with an annual capacity of over 100,000 vehicles. The plan was announced in December 2023.[105][106] It is the first Chinese manufacturer to plan a European factory.[107]
Australia
BYD entered the Australian market in 2022 through a partnership with EVDirect, a local distributor that is a subsidiary of ASX-listed company MotorCycle Holdings. Both companies signed an agreement in February 2021.[108] The company showcased the first right-hand drive Atto 3 in August 2022.[109] Its entry into the Australian market was delayed by a month to November 2022 due to compliance issues to the Atto 3, due to the top tether child restraint anchor point in the center rear seating position not in compliance with the Australian Design Rules.[110] Despite the delay, the Atto 3 became the second-best-selling electric vehicle in Australia in 2022, behind only the Tesla Model 3.[111] In 2023, BYD introduced two more models (the Dolphin and the Seal) in Australia, and by the end of the year has sold 12,438 vehicles, making it the second-largest electric vehicle brand in the country.[112]
In 2015, the BYD became the first Chinese manufacturer in Japan to market electric buses. It supplied the K9 large electric bus to bus operator Princess Line [ja] in Kyoto.[113][114] In 2022, BYD held 70 percent market share of electric buses in Japan.[115]
In July 2022, BYD announced sales of its electric passenger vehicles in Japan will start in 2023.[116] Sales of the Atto 3 in the country started in February 2023, with its first sales outlet located in Yokohama. BYD sells its vehicles in Japan through a dealership network instead of direct sales.[117] The Dolphin was added to the local line-up in September 2023. All BYD models in Japan are adapted to local conditions by adopting CHAdeMO charging standard.[118]
In October 2022, BYD started sales of passenger electric cars in Thailand in partnership with local company Rêver Automotive.[119] In 2023, BYD announced plans to build a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Thailand. The plant, located in Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) special zone in Rayong, is expected to start production in 2024 and will have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles.[120]
BYD entered Malaysia in December 2022 by partnering with local company Sime Darby Motors as the distributor. The first model introduced was the Atto 3.[121] In the Philippines, BYD partnered with Ayala Corp to distribute BYD passenger electric cars in the country since August 2023.[122]
BYD introduced its passenger electric cars in Indonesia in January 2024. According to the Indonesian government, BYD plans to invest US$1.3 billion (Rp 20.3 trillion) to build a manufacturing plant in Indonesia with an annual capacity of 150,000 units.[123]
India
BYD entered the Indian automotive sector in 2016 as a battery and bus chassis supplier to Olectra Greenwich Ltd. Its manufacturing operations are based in the Sriperumbudur plant. BYD started assembling electric passenger vehicles through a semi-knock down arrangement in low volume in 2022. The models assembled are the fleet-oriented e6 since September 2022 and the Atto 3 since November 2022.[124][125][126]
In July 2023, investment plans to produce cars in India were cancelled due to scrutiny from the Indian government, noting "security concerns" despite 16-year presence of BYD Company in India. BYD Auto previously had planned to invest 1 billion USD with a local joint venture partner Megha Engineering, with start of production targeted in 2025.[127]
Uzbekistan
BYD entered Uzbekistan in March 2023 by introducing two plug-in hybrid models and one battery electric model.[128] The company established a joint venture with local company Uzavtosanoat JSC to assemble plug-in hybrid cars starting in 2024. The plant is located in Jizzakh and will produce the BYD Chazor and the BYD Song Plus DM-i.[129]
In a February 2024 interview with Yahoo! Finance, Stella Li, the executive vice president of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas iterated that BYD is "not planning to come to the US" to sell electric passenger cars, despite planning a manufacturing plant in Mexico, citing politically motivated trade barriers against Chinese companies and the slowing rate of growth for electric car adoption in the US.[133]
Mexico
BYD started selling electric passenger cars in Mexico since 2023. The first models introduced were the Han EV sedan, Tang EV and Yuan Plus EV.[134][135] Previously the company has presence in the country selling battery electric buses, trucks and taxis.[136] Reports in February 2024 indicated that BYD is planning to build a manufacturing plant in Mexico. According to Stella Li, the company is not considering any northern state as it targets the local market instead of the US market.[133]
South America
BYD planned to deliver 1,002 electric buses to Bogota, the capital city of Colombia, by mid-2022,[137] after winning a contract for 406 electric buses in January 2021.[138]
In 2022, BYD began selling passenger vehicles in Colombia and Costa Rica.[126]
Brazil
In February 2022, BYD Auto began sales of passenger vehicles in Brazil starting with the Tang EV (marketed as the Tan), followed by the Han EV in April 2022.[139][140] Previously BYD in Brazil had marketed battery electric buses and commercial vehicles.[141]
In July 2023, BYD announced an investment of US$600 million in Brazil to acquire, modernise, and increase the production capacity of a former Ford manufacturing plant in Camaçari, Bahia, to build up to 300,000 cars per year by 2025. The plant will produce the Dolphin, Yuan Plus, and Song Plus DM-i.[142] BYD would also build two industrial plants: one for the production of electric bus/truck platforms and one for refining lithium and iron phosphate ores for use in BYD China's battery factories.[143]
BYD Auto offers a broad variety of vehicle types, including sedans, hatchbacks, MPVs, SUVs, battery electric buses and coaches in various sizes, and large trucks. The company formerly produced internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles until 2022, when the company announced that it would focus on new energy vehicles.[144]
For passenger vehicles for personal use, the BYD brand distinguishes its line-up under two main "series", which are the Dynasty Series (started by the Qin in 2012), Ocean Series (started by the Dolphin in 2021).[147] These series are offered through separate sales network, namely the Dynasty Network and the Ocean Network.[148][149] Both series also uses separate mobile apps for telematics.[150] Dynasty series vehicles focuses on high-end vehicles and adopts dragon-inspired designs,[151][152] while Ocean Series vehicles targets younger customers by adopting the concept design of "Marine Aesthetics" by using waves and flowing lines as the main theme. The Ocean Series is further divided into two series, which are models with marine animal names and the Warship Series (Frigate and Destroyer) that are plug-in hybrid DM-i vehicles.[153]Fleet-oriented vehicles for ride-hailing and taxi use are categorised in the "e" series.[154]
Current powertrain options for passenger vehicles consist of battery electric often denoted by the EV suffix, DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligent, a plug-in hybrid electric system) and DM-p (performance-oriented Dual Mode with all-wheel drive).[147]
BYD Seal
BYD Song Plus
BYD F3, the first vehicle designed by BYD Auto was produced in 2005–2019
Denza (Chinese: 腾势; pinyin: Téngshì) is a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz AG (previously Daimler AG) to produce luxury electric vehicles.[155][156] It was created in May 2010. Its first model, the Denza 500 is based on an earlier generation of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class.[157] In 2021, Daimler reduced its share from 50 percent to 10 percent via equity transfer, leaving BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd. as the biggest shareholder at 90 percent.[70] The brand line-up was refreshed with the release of the Denza D9 minivan in 2022, followed by the Denza N7 SUV.[158]
Yangwang (Chinese: 仰望; lit. 'gazing', 'look up') is BYD's luxury car brand that is positioned in a price range above CN¥1 million (approximately US$140,000) to compete with European luxury brands.[159] The brand was announced on January 5, 2023 at the Guangzhou Auto Show, along with its first model, the U8 off-road plug-in hybrid SUV, which features BYD's proprietary e4individual wheel drive technology, followed by the U9 battery electric supercar.[160][73]
Fangchengbao (Chinese: 方程豹; lit. 'formula leopard'), trademarked in English as Formula Bao[161] is BYD Auto's brand that produces SUVs. BYD positioned the brand with "professional" and "personalised" vehicles, with products covering off-road and track-focused segments. The brand was announced on June 9, 2023.[162] The brand operates its own direct sales stores, in contrast with BYD that relies on a dealership network.[163]
On August 16, 2023, Fangchengbao released its first model, the Bao 5 plug-in hybrid SUV. It debuted at the Chengdu Auto Show and is based on a Fangchengbao-specific platform called DMO (Dual Mode Off-Road).[163]
Fangchengbao Bao 5
Commercial vehicles
Light commercial vehicles and taxis
The BYD e6, first introduced in 2009 as the first battery electric vehicle from BYD, is predominantly marketed as taxis. It has been used as a taxi in many cities in China, Europe and other Asian countries, as well as in fleets for ride-sharing apps.[164] BYD also offered battery electric panel vans and windowed vans such as the T3/ETP3 and V3.[165]
In North America, BYD buses are produced in the US at BYD's plant in Lancaster, California. It is the largest battery-electric bus manufacturer in North America.[131]
The BYD DM (dual mode) hybrid technology was first introduced in 2008, on vehicles such as the BYD F3DM and BYD M3 DM. It consisted of a conventional internal combustion engine and transmission as well as an electric motor and batteries.[174]
DM-i/DM-p
BYD DM-i powertrain in display
The DM-i and DM-p replaced the DM technology. The DM-i is developed for efficiency-oriented front-wheel drive models, while the DM-p is adopted for performance-oriented all-wheel drive models. The models use series-parallelplug-in hybrid technology with a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT),[175] consisting of a high-efficiency petrol engine marketed as Xiaoyun (which can power an electric generator) and a main electric motor (which can be powered by batteries and/or an electric generator). The Xiaoyun engine uses the Atkinson cycle, has an ultra-high compression ratio (CR) of 15.5, and has a Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of 43%, which is claimed to be the world's highest for a production petrol engine.[176]
The hybrid drivetrain uses context-dependent components to provide driving power, including battery-only, battery + electrical generator mode, engine-only mode (only at high speeds due to lack of transmission), and battery + engine mode. The engine charges the batteries via the generator when conditions permit. The design allows the engine to remain within its high-efficiency zone.[176]
The DM-i is available with three power levels, codenamed EHS132, EHS145, and EHS160, using 1.5-litre, 1.5-litre or 1.5-litre turbocharged, and 1.5-litre turbocharged Xiaoyun engines respectively.[177]
In January 2024, reports surfaced that BYD plans to stop producing pouch-type batteries used in its plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2025 to address durability concerns and risk of leaking electrolyte. The company will use prismatic batteries known as "Short Blade" for its plug-in hybrid vehicles going forward.[178]
Software and connectivity
DiLink (global version) in landscape mode in a BYD Han EV
DiLink (global version) in portrait mode in a BYD Seal U
BYD equipped most of its passenger cars with DiLink, a service ecosystem of technology and content developed independently by BYD. The system is claimed to integrate in-vehicle network systems, cloud communication, AI, big data and other technologies.[179] The user interface is inspired by mobile phones, which is supported by rotatable screens in BYD vehicles. The system supports over-the-air updates. BYD also cooperated with Alibaba Cloud for its DiCloud AI cloud platform for the DiLink.[180] Initial iterations of the DiLink (version 1.0) were used in vehicles such as the second-generation BYD Tang, and uses hardware comprising a 14.6-inch screen, 4G connection and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage.[181]
The latest version of DiLink, the DiLink 4.0 was introduced in August 2021. The updated version supports 5G network, and feature reworked user interface that is more intuitive.[182] The hardware for the DiLink 4.0 is known to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon SM6350 chipset with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.[183]
One of the popular feature in the DiLink for the Chinese market is the inclusion of karaoke. BYD is one of the first brand in China to include karaoke in the in-car entertainment system, allowing occupants to sing through the optional or included DiLink microphone.[184][185][186]
BYD also introduced BYD OS in 2021 alongside the e-Platform 3.0, which is an in-house operating system for battery electric vehicles that decouples software and hardware. It reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs, while offering the possibility for other manufacturers that uses the platform to integrate their own software and hardware.[187]
The Blade battery is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for electric vehicles designed and manufactured by FinDreams Battery, a subsidiary of BYD Company. It was first used by the BYD Han in 2020.[63] The battery is claimed to be thinner and safer than typical electric vehicle batteries, and has been used by other car companies.[188][189] BYD claims that in a nail penetration test where the battery is impaled with a nail, the Blade battery emitted no smoke or fire after being penetrated, and its surface temperature reached only 30 to 60 °C (86 to 140 °F). In the same test, a three-layered lithium battery would exceed 500 °C (932 °F) and subsequently burned.[190]
e-Platform 3.0
The e-Platform 3.0 is a modularcar platform specialised for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). It offers improved integration of BYD's proprietary Blade battery technology with an improved pure electric frame with doubled torsional stiffness, a more efficient 8-in-1 module for the drive system, a direct cooling and heating system for the battery pack (utilising residual heat, powertrain, passenger compartment, and the battery itself) to increase thermal efficiency by up to 20%, and shorter front overhangs, lower body profile, and a longer wheelbase to improve aerodynamics.
The platform enables all-electric ranges exceeding 1,000 km (620 mi), with 800-volt fast charging technology for a range up to 150 km (93 mi) after 5-minutes of charging and allows an all-wheel drive (AWD) system with 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of up to 2.9 seconds.[191] It allows cell-to-body (CTB) battery integration. CTB replaces the previous cell-to-pack (CTP) technology launched by CATL and then dismissed by them in 2019.[192]
The first car designed using this platform is the Dolphin, followed by the Yuan Plus (Atto 3 in global markets),[193]Seal, Denza D9 EV, among others.[67]
BYD Auto has significantly cut manufacturing costs using three methods: vertical integration, self-produced moulds, and self-produced production lines and equipment. BYD claims to be the company that offers the world's highest degree of vertical integration, with over 70 percent of BYD's vehicle components are self-supplied, creating a competitive advantage in regards to margins.[194] Within the BYD group, it employs an extensive vertical integration to integrate the supply chain for components such as mouldings, batteries, motors, and electronic controls. BYD created FinDreams in 2020, a brand name used by five automotive component manufacturers fully owned by BYD which also supplies components to other automotive companies.[195]
A teardown by investment bank UBS of the BYD Seal revealed that 75 percent of the components were made in-house. Its competition, the Tesla Model 3 only uses 46 percent of components that are made in-house in China. UBS concluded that this helped the Seal achieve a gross profit margin of 16 percent, compared to 14 percent for the made-in-China Model 3.[62][196] BYD Auto also invests in supply chain by operating their own shipping services to export its cars.[197]
The Xi'an plant is BYD Auto's first production base, which includes electric assembly, electric motor, and battery production. The first expansion of the plant was completed in September 2014, when the Xi'an BYD No. 2 Plant went operational. BYD added an electric bus plant in the complex in 2017, with an annual capacity of 5,000 units.[199] Following the completion of the third phase development in September 2022, the current annual production capacity of the Xi'an production base is 900,000 vehicles.[200] As of 2024[update], it is the largest single manufacturing company in the Shaanxi province.[201]
In late 2012, the Changsha plant went operational with an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. A second phase plant went operational in 2022, making the total production capacity in Changsha reach 300,000 vehicles annually.[200]
BYD Auto started construction of its largest plant in Hefei, Anhui in July 2021, which started operations in June 2022. It will be built in three phases with final annual capacity of 1.32 million vehicles.[200]
BYD vehicle manufacturing plants in China
Subsidiary
Plant
Location
Start of production
Annual capacity
Products
Models produced (2024)
BYD Auto Co., Ltd.
Xi'an Plant (initially acquired from Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile)
BYD has a European electric bus assembly facility in Komárom, Hungary. The plant employed 300 people by the end of 2019, with a production capacity of up to 400 electric buses a year (and 600 chassis) on two shifts.[210]
In July 2023, BYD announced a US$620 million investment in Camaçari, Brazil to produce electric cars, after acquiring Ford's former plant.[211]
In 2019, BYD launched its global design centre in Shenzhen, China. It is led by industry veterans from European brands, led by Global Design director Wolfgang Egger, BYD Global Exterior Design director JuanMa Lopez and Global Interior Design director Michele Jauch-Paganetti.[213]
The carmaker unveiled the E-Seed GT concept car, the first joint effort from the team, at the Auto Shanghai in April 2019. The design concept reflected the lines of the traditional Chinese dragon.[214]
Partnerships
Toyota joint venture
BYD and Toyota formed a joint venture called BYD Toyota EV Technology Co., Ltd. (BTET), which was formalised in April 2020 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China. It was established with a focus on the research and development of battery electric vehicles.[215][216] The first product conceived by the joint venture is the Toyota bZ3, a Chinese market battery electric sedan manufactured by FAW Toyota.
Hino Motors joint venture
In October 2020, BYD Auto Industry Co., Ltd. signed an agreement with Japanese truck and bus manufacturer Hino Motors to establish a joint venture for commercial battery electric vehicle development. The joint venture plans to release vehicles under the Hino brand by 2025.[217]
In February 2023, Hino Motors halted sales of compact electric buses in Japan supplied by BYD as the bus contains hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen chemical that is banned under Japanese industry guidelines. The bus affected is the Hino Poncho Z EV.[218] Hino was unable to negotiate with BYD to build the bus without using the chemical, while BYD Japan claims that the buses "meet all required laws and standards".[219]
Alexander Dennis
In 2015, BYD Auto teamed up with Alexander Dennis, the UK's leading bus manufacturer, to build electric buses specifically for the British market. Alexander Dennis built their Enviro200EV single-deck and Enviro400EV double-deck products on BYD's chassis.[40]
Songsan Motor
Songsan SS Dolphin
A small Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Songsan Motor contracted BYD to produce retro-styled cars, as the company does not have a production license. Its first vehicle, the Songsan SS Dolphin (unrelated to the BYD Dolphin) was introduced in 2019 using Chevrolet Corvette C1 as a design inspiration. It is based on BYD's platform and powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. As legally required, the car wears BYD badges alongside Songsan Motor logo.[220] As of 2023[update], deliveries to customers have not started yet. Songsan sued BYD in September 2023 due to alleged contract disputes and fraudulent environmental certifications, an allegation that was denied by BYD.[221]
BYD Auto had been accused of taking designs from other manufacturers. Articles claimed BYD F1 "is a clear copy of the Toyota Aygo,"[222] that the BYD S6 "closely apes the Lexus RX",[223] the BYD F3 "is a copycat of the Toyota Corolla", the BYD S8 has a similar appearance to a Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, with "features an almost identical Mercedes-Benz CLK front-end and Renault Megane CC rear".[224][225] BYD founder Wang Chuanfu responded by claiming the company only uses "non-patented technologies".[226] In 2009, the US government had been advised by its consulate general in Guangzhou, China that BYD uses an approach of "copying and then modifying car designs." Chinese courts ruled BYD has not infringed on patents.[227]
Nanjing electric vehicle fraud
In 2016, a peculiar suicide note written by a BYD dealership owner in Nanjing started an investigation into government subsidy fraud.[228] The dealership owner committed suicide after facing bankruptcy, for which he blamed BYD. According to the note, BYD had received government subsidies for 600 electric buses it had never produced. A single electric bus went for about CN¥2 million (US$305,000). Of 600 buses, the city had received only a few dozen. That year, the Finance Ministry fined five manufacturers (not including BYD) which had fraudulently obtained more than CN¥1 billion (US$153 million) worth of subsidies.[229] The companies were required to return the subsidies in full and also pay penalties worth an additional 50 percent of subsidies received.
According to the relatives of the man, BYD forced dealerships to increase electric vehicle inventories even though sales were low. In an attempt to clear inventories, dealerships tried selling to people from outside of Nanjing, while simultaneously trying to help them get temporary Nanjing residence documents. According to a dealership employee, the dealerships wound up paying the subsidies on 80 percent of vehicles sold.[228]
Manufacturing plant pollution
In May 2022, Changsha city authorities opened an investigation into a manufacturing plant owned by BYD Auto in the city following complaints from nearby residents. The allegations surfaced in April 2022 on a website belonging to state newspaper People's Daily, where people living near the factory left messages claiming the plant's pollution had a strong odour, which gave residents irritated throats and nosebleeds to children. Residents purchased testing equipment, and found levels of TVOCs above safety standards.[230] Residents protested at the Changsha plant's gate, urging the company to solve the problem. BYD denied the allegations, stating that all emissions from the plant were compliant with China's regulatory rules and standards, and threatened legal actions against people who spread rumours that emissions from the factory had caused nosebleeds.[230][231][232] Production in the plant was partially halted during the investigation.[233]
Fuel tank evaporative emissions
In May 2023, rival Great Wall Motor publicly reported that two BYD top-selling plug-in hybrid models did not meet emission standards. In a social media post, Great Wall Motor accused BYD of using non-pressurised fuel tanks in its Qin Plus and Song Plus, enabling the liquid inside evaporate more rapidly than it would in pressurised tanks, and announced that it had submitted evidence documents to Chinese authorities.[234] BYD denied Great Wall's claim, saying the testing conducted by Great Wall was invalid as it run its own tests by using a different testing method required by authorities and without third-party inspection.[235][236]
Quality concerns of buses
In December 2018, the Albuquerque, New Mexico council in the US sued BYD over the alleged poor welding, poor battery range, and malfunctioning doors and brakes of its buses.[237] BYD denied the allegations, and the lawsuit was settled without money changing hands.[238]
In February 2023, BYD confirmed the presence of a toxic chemical, hexavalent chromium, in its electric buses in Japan. According to BYD, the contaminated vehicles will be "detoxified before being scrapped, leaving no impact on the environment."[240]
BYD car sales in 2009 were 448,400 vehicles. Its F3 was the best-selling sedan in China with sales of over 291,000 units.[33][243] In 2010, BYD sold 519,800 vehicles, representing 2.9 percent of the market in China, its sixth largest manufacturer.[198][244] In 2011, the BYD sales rank was outside the top ten.[245] In 2012, the company became the 9th largest car manufacturer in China, producing over 600,000 vehicles.[246] In 2013, BYD sold 506,189 passenger cars in China, ranking tenth.[247]
BYD sales had increased significantly compared to its previous years since 2021, in part as a result of the rapid increase of new energy vehicle sales as a percentage of total passenger vehicle sales in China in 2021 and 2022.[56] While the new energy vehicle market share were stagnant between 4–5 percent since 2018, in 2021 and 2022, new energy vehicles accounted for 15.4 and 27.5 percent all passenger vehicle sales respectively. Within BYD's total vehicle sales, new energy vehicles also account for an increasing percentage from 52.4 percent in 2018 into reaching 99.2 percent in the first half of 2022 as the company ended production of pure internal combustion engine vehicles.[248]
In late 2022 and early 2023, BYD plug-in hybrid vehicles surpassed the sales of its battery electric vehicles, which was partly attributed to the positive reception of BYD's DM-i hybrid system technology that replaced the older DM hybrid in January 2021.[249] In the first half of 2022, BYD becomes the top plug-in electric vehicle seller after surpassing Tesla.[57]
Since 2023, BYD became the top-selling car brand in China ahead of Volkswagen, marking the first time another company has sold more cars than Volkswagen in the country.[9] The company surpassed Tesla as the top battery electric vehicle manufacturer in the fourth quarter of 2023 by selling 526,409 battery electric cars, while Tesla delivered 484,507 vehicles.[8][250] In 2023, 52.5 percent of BYD's sales volume were from battery electric vehicles (including commercial vehicles).[1]
In early 2024, BYD sales in China were surpassed by Volkswagen, ending a 11-month streak as the top-selling brand in China.[251] It was attributed by the 2024 Chinese New Year holiday and reduced demand.[252]
^"比亚迪(002594.SZ)发2022年度业绩，新能源乘用车年销量创新高，净利增446%至166亿元，拟10派11.42元" [BYD (002594.SZ) released its 2022 annual results. Annual sales of new energy passenger vehicles hit a new high, and net profit increased by 446% to 16.6 billion yuan. It plans to send 10 units to 11.42 yuan]. Zhitong Finance. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
^Chang, Crystal (9 August 2009), Developmental Strategies in a Global Economy: The Unexpected Emergence of China's Independent Auto Industry, p. 13, SSRN1450117
^"王传福忍痛砸毁316 比亚迪孤注一掷F3-搜狐汽车" [Wang Chuanfu reluctantly smashed the BYD 316, went all-in on the F3]. Auto Sohu. 24 April 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^McNabb, Mark (21 December 2014). "2014 BYD F6". TopSpeed. Retrieved 30 December 2023. Modeled after the Honda Accord, the car does share some similarities with the Accord's exterior, but overall has its own BYD flavor.
^"回顾创业艰辛几度哽咽，比亚迪王传福："真的差点就走不下去了"" [Looking back on the hardships of starting a business, he choked up several times. BYD Wang Chuanfu said: "I almost couldn't go on."]. m.yicai.com. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^"【图】问道掌门人|"禁燃"后 比亚迪开挂狂奔_汽车之家" [Ask the boss | BYD cheated and ran wild after the "burning ban"]. Autohome. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
^"在一起才是"中国汽车"，比亚迪第500万辆新能源汽车正式下线" [Together we are "Chinese cars", BYD's 5 millionth new energy vehicle officially rolls off the assembly line]. Sohu. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^"独家：比亚迪唐二代实车图曝光 真正的大美SUV" [Exclusive: BYD Tang II real car pictures reveal the real Damei SUV]. Sohu (in Chinese (China)). 14 December 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
^Verpraet, Illya (26 January 2024). "BYD Seal review". Autocar. Retrieved 4 March 2024. it has also committed to local production with a factory in Hungary. It is the first Chinese manufacturer to do so since MG closed the Longbridge plant.
^"BYD、中国自動車メーカー初の日本進出…京都でEVバス納車" [BYD becomes the first Chinese automaker to enter Japan...delivery of EV buses in Kyoto]. Response.jp. 25 February 2015.
^"国内電気バスシェア7割の中国BYDがダメ押しの一手!? 航続可能距離を延長した新型バス2種を投入へ" [China's BYD, which has 70% of the domestic electric bus market share, is taking a negative step!? To introduce two new types of buses with extended cruising range]. Bus Magazine Bestcarweb. バスマガジン. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
^"启迪征途 星辰大海 比亚迪海洋网全国首家——河南迪海超级旗舰店11月28日盛大启航-汽车之讯" [BYD Ocean Network's first nationwide--Henan Dihai Super Flagship Store launches grandly on November 28th]. Newsfcar.com (in Chinese). 25 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
^"聊一下比亚迪王朝网和海洋网的车系区别" [Let’s talk about the differences between BYD Dynasty and Ocean Network car series]. Dongchedi. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
^"比亚迪仰望U8为什么敢卖到150万？因为你买到的不仅仅是一台车！" [Why does BYD dare to sell the U8 for 1.5 million? Because you are buying more than just a car!]. Sohu. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
^"比亚迪DiLink智能网联系统：打造技术+内容的服务生态体系-智能硬件资讯--至顶网" [BYD DiLink intelligent network connection system: creating a technology + content service ecosystem]. smart.zhiding.cn. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^"比亚迪新一代唐DiLink车机深度体验：手机能做的，它全部包揽 - 电动知士" [BYD’s new generation Tang DiLink car and machine in-depth experience: it can do everything a mobile phone can do]. EVask360.com. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^"这把稳了！ 首发体验比亚迪DiLink 4.0(5G)" [This is sure! First experience of BYD DiLink 4.0 (5G)]. Sohu. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^"采用高通骁龙sm6350芯片，比亚迪DiLink 4.0硬件参数曝光" [Using Qualcomm Snapdragon sm6350 chip, BYD DiLink 4.0 hardware parameters exposed]. Sohu. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^"比亚迪麦克风拆解，自动K歌适配，打造汽车KTV系统" [BYD's microphone is disassembled, automatically adapted to karaoke, and built into a car KTV system]. Sohu. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
^网易 (22 October 2021). "想K歌？上车！比亚迪DiLink专属麦克风给你更专业的K歌体验" [Want to sing karaoke? boarding! BYD DiLink exclusive microphone gives you a more professional karaoke experience]. 163.com. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
^Wang, Lu (2022), Jiang, Yushi; Shvets, Yuriy; Mallick, Hrushikesh (eds.), "Cost Management of New Energy Automobile Enterprises: —— Taking BYD as an Example", Proceedings of the 2022 2nd International Conference on Economic Development and Business Culture (ICEDBC 2022), vol. 225, Dordrecht: Atlantis Press International BV, pp. 1581–1585, doi:10.2991/978-94-6463-036-7_236, ISBN978-94-6463-035-0
^Hailian, Wang (17 November 2023). "年产近百万辆整车背后比亚迪汽车的西安故事-新闻中心-青海新闻网" [BYD Auto’s Xi’an story behind its annual output of nearly one million vehicles]. www.qhnews.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
^ abcd"比亚迪十大汽车工厂都在哪里！" [Where are BYD's top ten automobile factories?]. Sohu. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
^"2023年西安比亚迪产量产值再创历史新高 12月单月新能源汽车产量突破10万辆" [In 2023, Xi'an BYD's output value reached a new record high. In December, the monthly output of new energy vehicles exceeded 100,000 units.]. www.sohu.com. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
^"松散机车起诉比亚迪：克尔维特海豚难产，如何与比亚迪"在一起"" [Songsang Motor sues BYD: Corvette dolphin dystocia, how to "be together" with BYD]. Sohu. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
^"比亚迪「格局」刷屏，500 万辆新能源汽车助它当国产汽车大哥" [BYD's "pattern" refreshes the screen, 5 million new energy vehicles help it become the big brother of domestic automobiles]. 爱范儿 (in Chinese (China)). 11 August 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^2011年前十家乘用车生产企业销量排名. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012.
^"2012年12月分车型前十家生产企业销量排名". China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
3,045,231 vehicles (2023)
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