BYD vs SAIC Motor: Founders, CEOs and History
BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu, Lu Xiangyang and is led by Wang Chuanfu. SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 by Chen Xianglin and is led by Jia Jianxu.
Company facts
BYD
- Founded
- 1995
- Headquarters
- Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Current CEO
- Wang Chuanfu
- Employees
- 911,900
SAIC Motor
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Current CEO
- Jia Jianxu
- Employees
- 179,797
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.
SAIC Motor
Chen Xianglin
Chen Xianglin was a senior executive of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in the 1990s and early 2000s, during the period when SAIC Motor was restructured and listed and the SAIC-GM joint venture was formed.
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
SAIC Motor
- Wang Xiaoqiu2024–present
Chairman of the Board
Former SAIC president and ex-general manager of SAIC General Motors; became chairman in 2024.
Source - Jia Jianxu2024–present
President & Director
Former general manager of SAIC Volkswagen and SAIC vice president; became president in 2024.
Source
Timeline: BYD and SAIC Motor side by side
1955SAIC Motor
Shanghai auto industry roots
Shanghai consolidates auto repair and parts workshops, the base from which SAIC later grew.
1958SAIC Motor
Phoenix sedan built
The Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant builds the Phoenix, Shanghai's first passenger car.
1984SAIC Motor
SAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed
China's first car joint venture is signed to build the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai.
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.
1997SAIC Motor
SAIC General Motors formed
SAIC and GM set up a 50:50 joint venture in Shanghai to build Buick cars.
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.
2007SAIC Motor
Merger with Nanjing Automobile brings MG
SAIC takes over Nanjing Automobile, uniting MG and Rover-derived assets under one roof.
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.
2020SAIC Motor
IM Motors launched with Alibaba
SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech set up premium EV brand IM Motors.
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.
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.
2024SAIC Motor
Leadership change; BYD takes top spot
Wang Xiaoqiu becomes chairman and Jia Jianxu president, the year BYD overtakes SAIC as China's top-selling carmaker.
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.
2025SAIC Motor
Profit rebound and 4.5 million sales
Revenue rises 4.6% to ~$91.2 billion (CN¥656.24 billion), net profit recovers to ~$1.41 billion (CN¥10.11 billion), and wholesale sales reach 4.507 million.
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
BYD
- Denza (remaining stake from Mercedes-Benz)2024Undisclosed
- Jabil mobile electronics manufacturing business (China)2023$2B
- Xi'an Qinchuan Automobile2003$32M
Questions about BYD vs SAIC Motor
Who is the CEO of BYD Company Ltd and SAIC Motor?
BYD Company Ltd is led by Wang Chuanfu and SAIC Motor is led by Jia Jianxu. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was BYD Company Ltd founded vs SAIC Motor?
SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 — 40 years before BYD Company Ltd, which was founded in 1995. SAIC Motor'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 SAIC Motor?
BYD Company Ltd employs approximately 911,900 people, while SAIC Motor employs approximately 179,797. BYD Company Ltd has the larger workforce at 911,900 employees, compared to SAIC Motor's 179,797. 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 SAIC Motor headquartered?
Both BYD Company Ltd and SAIC Motor are headquartered in China, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded BYD Company Ltd and SAIC Motor?
BYD Company Ltd was founded by Wang Chuanfu, Lu Xiangyang. SAIC Motor was founded by Chen Xianglin.
Which company has a longer operating history — BYD Company Ltd or SAIC Motor?
SAIC Motor has been operating for approximately 71 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 SAIC Motor overview