BYD vs Old Dominion: Founders, CEOs and History
BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu, Lu Xiangyang and is led by Wang Chuanfu. Old Dominion was founded in 1934 by Earl Congdon, Lillian Congdon and is led by Kevin M. "Marty" Freeman.
Company facts
BYD
- Founded
- 1995
- Headquarters
- Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Current CEO
- Wang Chuanfu
- Employees
- 911,900
Old Dominion
- Founded
- 1934
- Headquarters
- Thomasville, North Carolina, United States
- Current CEO
- Kevin M. "Marty" Freeman
- Employees
- 20,591
Founders
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.
Old Dominion
Earl Congdon
Earl Congdon and his wife Lillian founded Old Dominion in 1934 during the Great Depression, operating one truck between Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia.
Lillian Congdon
Lillian Congdon co-founded Old Dominion in 1934 alongside her husband Earl and handled much of the business side of the early company. She later led the company after Earl's death, keeping the business in family hands.
CEOs and their tenures
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
Old Dominion
- Adam N. Satterfield2016–present
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, he oversees the massive capital expenditure required to continuously expand the company's vital network of service centers, ensuring the company never runs out of capacity.
Source - David S. Congdon2018–present
Executive Chairman
As the grandson of the founders, he served as CEO during the company's absolute most explosive growth phase, cementing its reputation as the premier LTL carrier in North America.
Source - Greg Gantt2018–2023
President and Chief Executive Officer
Serving as CEO from 2018 to 2023, he guided the company through the severe supply chain shocks of the pandemic, maintaining absolutely unparalleled operational margins.
Source - Kevin M. "Marty" Freeman2023–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Joined Old Dominion in 1992 and worked in customer relations, sales and operations; served as Executive Vice President and COO from 2018 before becoming CEO in July 2023.
Source - Gregory B. Plemmons2023–present
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
As COO, he ensures the incredibly complex terminal network operates with absolute military precision, maintaining the industry's lowest claims ratio for damaged freight.
Source
Timeline: BYD and Old Dominion side by side
1934Old Dominion
Old Dominion Founded
Earl and Lillian Congdon started the freight carrier with one truck in Richmond, Virginia.
1991Old Dominion
Nasdaq Listing
Old Dominion went public on Nasdaq under the ticker ODFL.
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.
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.
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).
2018Old Dominion
Greg Gantt becomes CEO
Greg Gantt succeeded David S. Congdon as CEO; Congdon became Executive Chairman.
2020BYD
Launches the Blade Battery
BYD introduces the Blade Battery, an LFP cell-to-pack design that passes the nail penetration test without fire.
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.
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.
2023Old Dominion
Marty Freeman becomes CEO
Kevin M. "Marty" Freeman became President and CEO on July 1, 2023, after Gantt retired; Greg Plemmons became COO.
2023Old Dominion
Withdrew Yellow terminal bid
Old Dominion placed a $1.5 billion stalking-horse bid for Yellow's terminals, was topped by Estes, and later pulled out of the auction.
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.
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.
2025Old Dominion
$5.496B FY2025 Revenue
Old Dominion reported $5.496 billion of revenue and $1.024 billion of net income for FY2025.
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).
2026Old Dominion
Q2 2026: 70.1% operating ratio
Revenue rose 10.4% to $1.554 billion and EPS rose 32.3% to $1.68, matching the company record.
Acquisitions
BYD
- Denza (remaining stake from Mercedes-Benz)2024Undisclosed
- Jabil mobile electronics manufacturing business (China)2023$2B
- Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile2003$32M
Old Dominion
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about BYD vs Old Dominion
Who is the CEO of BYD Company Ltd and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.?
BYD Company Ltd is led by Wang Chuanfu and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is led by Kevin M. "Marty" Freeman. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was BYD Company Ltd founded vs Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.?
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. was founded in 1934 — 61 years before BYD Company Ltd, which was founded in 1995. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.'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 BYD Company Ltd have compared to Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.?
BYD Company Ltd employs approximately 911,900 people, while Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. employs approximately 20,591. BYD Company Ltd has the larger workforce at 911,900 employees, compared to Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.'s 20,591. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are BYD Company Ltd and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. headquartered?
BYD Company Ltd is headquartered in China and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded BYD Company Ltd and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.?
BYD Company Ltd was founded by Wang Chuanfu, Lu Xiangyang. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. was founded by Earl Congdon, Lillian Congdon.
Which company has a longer operating history — BYD Company Ltd or Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.?
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. has been operating for approximately 92 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 BYD vs Old Dominion overview