In 2021, the electric vehicles sales in China surged 154% as more consumers chose greener cars. According to CAAM, EV makers sold a total of 3.3 million vehicles last year, up from 1.3 million in 2020. The Shenzhen-based BYD shipped 603,783 units, overshadowing Tesla which sold 240,000 vehicles in China’s market. Taking the lion’s share of domestic EV market, BYD’s influence has extended its tentacles to all major markets worldwide.
In Japan, BYD worked with Keihan Bus Co., and Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. and put J6 electric buses into services on Japan’s first all-electric public transit loop. The J6 electric bus made by BYD can carry up to 29 people and achieve fast charging within 3 hours for a range up to 90 miles. These electric buses can also serve as emergency power supplies in an emergency.
In North America, BYD has already invested over $250 million directly in that region. Its North America’s headquarters is based in downtown Los Angeles, with a 550,000-square-foot bus manufacturing facility in California. It has formed a well-established local team with over 1,000 employees.
The BYD and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) partnership is one of the most successful in the electric bus segment in Europe. As of May, 2021, they had delivered 1,000 units in UK. BYD provided batteries and drive units and ADL manufactured British-built bodies. According to Power Technology Research, BYD has recently announced the delivery of its 70,000th e-Bus. The company’s e-Bus presence in Europe now reaches 2.5% of its global sales. Its product lineup includes passenger cars, electric buses, e-Trucks, energy storage, batteries, and more.
BYD’s founder Wang Chuanfu believes that the world is shifting to electric mobility and his company will the EV ranking in the home market and then explore possibilities worldwide. “We are seizing the once-in-a-century opportunity,” he said, “And we have the whole industrial chain. No one else has that.” That explains BYD’s global ambitions and confidence.
