Adidas vs BYD: Founders, CEOs and History
Adidas was founded in 1949 by Adolf Dassler and is led by Bjørn Gulden. BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu, Lu Xiangyang and is led by Wang Chuanfu.
Company facts
Founders
Adidas
Adolf Dassler
Adolf Dassler was the sole founder of Adidas. He developed sport-specific footwear, sought athlete feedback, and registered the Adidas company and 3-Stripes footwear in 1949.
BYD
Wang Chuanfu
Wang Chuanfu founded BYD in Shenzhen in 1995 with his cousin Lu Xiangyang to make rechargeable batteries for mobile phones.
Lu Xiangyang
Lu Xiangyang put up the early capital when Wang Chuanfu started BYD in 1995 and has sat on BYD's board ever since, now as a non-executive director. His stake in BYD made him one of China's richest people.
CEOs and their tenures
Adidas
- Robert Louis-Dreyfus1993–2001
CEO
He led Adidas through its 1990s restructuring and transition to a publicly listed sporting-goods group.
Source - Herbert Hainer2001–2016
CEO
During his tenure Adidas expanded its brand portfolio and grew its global footwear and apparel business.
Source - Kasper Rørsted2016–2022
CEO
Under Rørsted's leadership from 2016 to 2022, Adidas doubled its North American market share and expanded annual e-commerce sales from €1 billion to over €4 billion.
Source - Bjørn Gulden2023–present
CEO
Adidas reported 2025 sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) during his tenure. His appointment was extended through 2030.
Source
BYD
- Wang Chuanfu1995–present
Founder, Chairman and President (CEO)
Wang Chuanfu has run BYD since founding it in 1995. He moved the company from phone batteries into cars in 2003, launched the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid in 2008, introduced the Blade Battery in 2020 and ended combustion-only car production in 2022.
Source - Lu Xiangyang1995–present
Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director
Lu Xiangyang, Wang Chuanfu's cousin and a former banker, provided early capital for BYD in 1995 and has remained on the board, now as a non-executive director.
Source - Stella Li1996–present
Executive Vice President; CEO of BYD Americas and Europe
Stella Li joined BYD in September 1996 as a marketing manager for exports, opened its first overseas office in Hong Kong in 1997 and set up its European headquarters in 1999.
Source
Timeline: Adidas and BYD side by side
1924Adidas
Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory Established
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler established the predecessor shoe business in Herzogenaurach.
1936Adidas
Jesse Owens Wears Dassler Shoes
Jesse Owens competed in Dassler track shoes while winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.
1949Adidas
Adidas Registered
Adolf Adi Dassler registered Adidas in Herzogenaurach after separating from Rudolf, who founded Puma.
1954Adidas
World Cup Boot Breakthrough
West Germany won the 1954 World Cup wearing Adidas boots with replaceable studs.
1970Adidas
Telstar World Cup Match Ball
Adidas supplied the Telstar as the official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
1993Adidas
Robert Louis-Dreyfus Becomes CEO
Robert Louis-Dreyfus became CEO and led a restructuring of Adidas.
1995Adidas
Adidas Lists Publicly
Adidas completed its public listing in Frankfurt under Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
1995BYD
BYD founded in Shenzhen
Wang Chuanfu and his cousin Lu Xiangyang start BYD in Shenzhen with about 20 employees, making rechargeable batteries for mobile phones.
1997Adidas
Salomon Group Acquisition
Adidas acquired Salomon Group, adding winter sports equipment and TaylorMade golf.
2000BYD
Becomes a leading NiCd battery maker
BYD becomes one of the world's largest makers of nickel-cadmium batteries, supplying major electronics brands.
2002BYD
Hong Kong listing
BYD lists its H shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code 1211.
2003BYD
Buys Qinchuan and enters the car business
BYD acquires a controlling stake in Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile for about $37.4 million (CN¥269 million), gaining a car production licence and factory.
2006Adidas
Reebok Acquisition Completed
Adidas completed its $3.8 billion acquisition of Reebok.
2008BYD
Berkshire Hathaway takes about 10%
Berkshire Hathaway's MidAmerican Energy invests $232 million for about 10% of BYD, giving the company international credibility.
2008BYD
Launches the F3DM plug-in hybrid
BYD launches the F3DM, the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car, two years before the Chevrolet Volt.
2010BYD
Denza joint venture with Daimler
BYD and Daimler set up Denza as a 50:50 joint venture to build premium electric cars in China.
2011BYD
Launches the e6 and lists in Shenzhen
BYD launches the e6 electric crossover, first used as a taxi in Shenzhen, and lists A shares on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (002594).
2020BYD
Launches the Blade Battery
BYD introduces the Blade Battery, an LFP cell-to-pack design that passes the nail penetration test without fire.
2021Adidas
Reebok Divestiture Agreement
Adidas agreed to sell Reebok to Authentic Brands Group for total consideration of up to $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion).
2022Adidas
Ye Partnership Terminated
Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye and stopped production of Yeezy branded products.
2022BYD
Ends combustion-only car production
In March 2022 BYD stops making combustion-only passenger cars and focuses entirely on battery EVs and plug-in hybrids.
2023Adidas
Bjørn Gulden Becomes CEO
Bjørn Gulden became Adidas CEO on January 1, 2023.
2023BYD
Passes Tesla in quarterly BEV sales
BYD sells 3.02 million new energy vehicles in 2023, and its 526,409 battery EVs in the fourth quarter top Tesla's 484,507 for the first time in a quarter.
2024BYD
Takes full ownership of Denza
Mercedes-Benz sells its last 10% of Denza in July 2024, leaving BYD as the sole shareholder of its premium brand.
2025Adidas
Record 2025 Sales
Adidas reported sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) for 2025.
2025BYD
Berkshire Hathaway exits
Berkshire Hathaway confirms in September 2025 that it has sold its entire BYD stake, ending a 17-year investment.
2025BYD
Becomes the world's top battery EV seller
BYD sells 2.26 million battery EVs in 2025 against Tesla's 1.64 million, and 4.6 million new energy vehicles in total.
2026BYD
Unveils Blade Battery 2.0 and FLASH charging
On March 5, 2026 BYD unveils the second-generation Blade Battery, which charges from 10% to 70% in about five minutes, and plans 20,000 FLASH charging stations in China by the end of 2026.
2026BYD
Overseas revenue passes China
In the first half of 2026 BYD's overseas revenue of ~$25.2 billion (CN¥181.3 billion) exceeds revenue from China for the first time, even as group revenue falls 7.1% to ~$47.9 billion (CN¥344.8 billion).
Acquisitions
Adidas
- Runtastic2015$240M
- Five Ten2011$25M
- Reebok2006$3.8B
- Salomon Group1997$1.4B
BYD
- Denza (remaining stake from Mercedes-Benz)2024Undisclosed
- Jabil mobile electronics manufacturing business (China)2023$2B
- Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile2003$32M
Questions about Adidas vs BYD
Who is the CEO of Adidas AG and BYD Company Ltd?
Adidas AG is led by Bjørn Gulden and BYD Company Ltd is led by Wang Chuanfu. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Adidas AG founded vs BYD Company Ltd?
Adidas AG was founded in 1949 — 46 years before BYD Company Ltd, which was founded in 1995. Adidas AG's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger BYD Company Ltd.
How many employees does Adidas AG have compared to BYD Company Ltd?
Adidas AG employs approximately 64,938 people, while BYD Company Ltd employs approximately 911,900. BYD Company Ltd has the larger workforce at 911,900 employees, compared to Adidas AG's 64,938. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Adidas AG and BYD Company Ltd headquartered?
Adidas AG is headquartered in Germany and BYD Company Ltd is headquartered in China. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Adidas AG and BYD Company Ltd?
Adidas AG was founded by Adolf Dassler. BYD Company Ltd was founded by Wang Chuanfu, Lu Xiangyang.
Which company has a longer operating history — Adidas AG or BYD Company Ltd?
Adidas AG has been operating for approximately 77 years, making it the more established of the two companies. BYD Company Ltd has been in operation for around 31 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Adidas vs BYD overview