BYD, how to become the leading manufacturer of electric cars in China

The milestones in the history of one of the most fashionable brands of recent years

BYD, come si diventa il primo costruttore di auto elettriche in Cina

By: Lorenzo Curatti

Published by: Brian Potter

May 14, 2024 at 6:42am ET

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In just 29 years, BYD has become one of the biggest players on the global automotive scene and the leading Chinese manufacturer of electrified cars. BYD's growth has been breathtaking and, in some ways, astonishing. A case study for those interested in the brand's industrial development and strategy.

Not just cars, in fact, but also batteries, also supplied to Tesla, and other types of mobility, public and private, as well as energy production and storage in general. To date, BYD can count on more than 30 industrial parks spread over several continents (a plant in Europe, in Hungary, has already been announced, and a second plant could be confirmed soon).

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Tracing the steps that led the Chinese giant to become such a major player is also of interest to those who want to get to know the brand and the cars that have recently started to appear on our roads.

BYD, the story step by step

During a trip to Shenzen, where BYD is headquartered, I was able to identify some important milestones in the brand's history. Here are the main ones:

1995 - The company was founded on 10 February by Wang Chuanfu, a chemist aged just 29, in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, where it is still headquartered today. Its main activity is the production of rechargeable batteries.

BYD, the stages of its astonishing growth

Wang Chuanfu (left) at Beijing Expo 2024

1996 - Development and production of batteries using lithium-ion technology begins.
1998 - Three years later, expansion begins: the first branch outside China is opened in the Netherlands.
2000 - BYD opens its first industrial park in Kuichong, Shenzen, and becomes the first supplier of lithium-ion batteries to Motorola, then the world's leading phone company.
2002 - The company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, setting a record for the highest offer price per share at the time. Among the customers for its lithium-ion batteries, BYD can also boast Nokia. But that's not all: this was also the year in which it began producing semi-conductors.
2003 - That's it, BYD enters the car market. The first car would not appear for another two years.
2005 - Called the F3, it was the first car produced and sold by BYD. It is a classic three-box saloon with compact dimensions. The target of 10,000 units sold was easily achieved.

BYD, the stages of its astonishing growth

La BYD F3