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BYD Introduces Type A Electric School Bus

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD Co., Ltd. has unveiled its BYD Type A electric school bus. The bus offers innovative vehicle-to-grid technology, allowing the vehicle to serve as a power storage resource when it’s not transporting students. The Type A can seat up to 30, and can be equipped with an ADA liftgate capable of lifting 800 pounds. The bus has a range of up to 140 miles on a single charge.

“This is a timely solution: BYD’s Type A battery electric school bus is designed to be there for school districts 24 hours a day, both as a vehicle and power storage resource, said Stella Li, President of BYD North America. “The BYD combination of top-notch safety features, innovative design and reliable performance makes this a practical and highly affordable zero-emission solution.”

Safety

BYD made safety the top priority in its school bus design. Standard safety features include a high strength steel construction body, electronic stability control to aid handling, and an electronic braking system to ensure more evenly distributed brake force.

At the heart of the BYD Type A is its lithium iron phosphate battery, the safest and most reliable in the electric vehicle industry.

In addition, BYD adds an additional layer of protection with its Predictive Stop Arm™, which monitors approaching traffic and notifies students as they exit the bus when it is safe to cross.

With length options of 26.7-feet, 24.5-feet and 22.9 feet, BYD’s Type A battery-electric school bus is perfect for routes with fewer students and for transporting those with disabilities.

BYD buses can be equipped with HSM 3-point lap-shoulder belts, integrated child seats, and portable restraints. These school bus seats are not only designed to keep children safer, but they have the benefits of improving behavior, reducing bullying, and minimizing driver distraction.

Driver Comfort

With the driver being the first safety element, BYD drew from the experience of thousands of bus operators to enhance comfort and ergonomics in designing the driver’s cockpit. The driver’s area features comfort seats, a 16.5-inch power steering wheel and telescopic steering column, high level of visibility, and easy to reach control switches. The driver can also control the air conditioning over the cockpit in addition to controlling the system for passengers.

Our Technology

“Just like our Type D bus introduced last year, our Type A bus bi-directional charging capability is a game changer,” said Samuel Kang, BYD’s Head of Total Technology Solutions. “School buses can be charged overnight when energy demand is low, and clean emission free energy can be fed back into the classroom during school hours when the bus is parked keeping classrooms well-lit and students and teachers plugged-in.”

BYD offers two kind of charging solutions to meet different needs. The150 kw DC charging solution is available with high charging power and efficiency. BYD also provides 19.2 kw single phase AC charging.

BYD’s innovative battery-electric technology can cut fuel costs by as much as 60% compared to diesel vehicles. With fewer moving parts and less vibration, maintenance costs can be cut by as much as 60%.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2022 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Partners With Nuro on 3rd Generation Autonomous EV Delivery Vehicle

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD Co., Ltd. has partnered with leading autonomous vehicle company Nuro to begin producing the company’s third-generation electric autonomous delivery vehicle.

The partnership is expected to scale Nuro’s more affordable, eco-friendly, and convenient services to millions of people across the country.

“BYD will leverage the manufacturing capacity of our Lancaster, California plant by finishing assembly of globally sourced hardware components to support Nuro and bring more jobs to the community,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Co. Ltd. and President of BYD North America, “Together we will build this autonomous delivery vehicle, with the mutual goal of creating a safer environment on streets across the United States.”

The announcement follows Nuro’s $600 million Series D funding round which closed in Q4 2021 and was led by Tiger Global Management with participation from other investors.

Combining both partners’ advanced technology, Nuro’s third-generation autonomous delivery vehicle will feature greater payload and new safety technologies. With twice the cargo volume of Nuro’s current R2 model, the automotive production grade vehicle will also feature modular inserts to customize storage and new temperature-controlled compartments to keep goods warm or cool. Safety enhancements include an external airbag to further improve safety for pedestrians outside the vehicle, as well as a multi-modal sensing suite, including cameras, radars, lidar, and thermal cameras, creating a redundant 360-degree view.

Nuro was founded in 2016 by Jiajun Zhu and Dave Ferguson, former principal engineers of Google’s self-driving car team. Specializing in developing zero-occupant vehicles designed specifically for transporting goods and not passengers, Nuro has launched two generations of autonomous vehicles, introduced delivery service with industry leaders including Domino’s, Kroger, and 7-Eleven, and announced a multi-year partnership with FedEx.

“BYD is one of the largest OEM networks of electric vehicles in the world, and we are thrilled to partner with them to help us move one step closer to scaled commercial operations,” said Jiajun Zhu, Nuro co-founder and CEO. “We look forward to transforming the hardware components of BYD’s globally sourced electric vehicle platform into innovative autonomous vehicles capable of operating on public roads at our new facility here in America. Through our partnership with BYD, we plan to produce autonomous vehicles at scale that can improve road safety, air quality, and overall access to goods.”

As a leader in the NEV industry, BYD has innovated rich technologies in the field of electrification. In this project, BYD is jointly working with Nuro on vehicle development, and is responsible for vehicle manufacturing and initial vehicle testing, and provides hardware like the Blade Battery, electric motors, electronic controls, and displays for human-machine interaction. Nuro integrates technologies such as autonomous driving, control modules and sensors. BYD will finish assembly of the hardware platform at its Lancaster plant in the United States using globally sourced components. Nuro will then complete the vehicle manufacturing process by installing and testing the autonomy systems that will make the platform capable of operation at the company’s new facilities in southern Nevada.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2022 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Wins Contract to Extract up to 80,000 Tons of Metallic Lithium in Chile

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has been awarded a contract to extract up to 80,000 tons of metallic lithium in Chile.

Chile’s Ministry of Mining awarded BYD the contract to extract up to 80,000 tons of metallic lithium after the company won the contract with an offer of $61 million.

BYD is the second largest EV battery manufacturer in China.

“BYD always had a global and sustainable view of technological development, aiming to expand our business worldwide,” said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and President of BYD North America. “Chile has become the best example of adaptation and vision for the future, demonstrating that its stability and commitment to innovation have positioned it as a leader in Latin America. BYD has been part of these processes, focusing on innovation and bringing to Chile the technology that will help build a sustainable ecosystem in the country. We started with electromobility, and today we will add value to lithium extraction and production.”

Tamara Berríos, Country Manager of BYD Chile, said Chile, one of the countries with the largest lithium resources globally, plans to meet the increased global demand for lithium. Chile’s lithium production will help future growth of clean transportation technology and fight climate change.

“We have promoted clean public transportation with electromobility for years and have introduced the first pure electric bus fleet with lithium batteries in Chile to achieve its zero-emission goals,” Berrios said. “We hope to contribute to the local lithium market with 27 years of experience in battery technology. Our R&D in the battery industry will strengthen Chile’s sustainable and innovative development, both for its national mining industry and the different communities in the country.”

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2022 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

1,000th BYD Pure-Electric Tang SUV Sold in Norway

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has sold its 1,000th pure-electric Tang SUV in Norway. The customer took delivery via BYD’s Norwegian distributor, RSA.

The pure-electric all-wheel-drive BYD Tang SUV is gaining widespread recognition in Norway with positive feedback from customers, and the motoring industry alike. The family-sized, zero-emission SUV encapsulates the perfect blend of space, performance, design and driving range.

The BYD Tang is available to order through 43 RSA dealerships located in key cities across Norway, providing sales, aftersales, parts and service support to BYD Tang customers throughout the country. The pure-electric BYD Tang SUV is priced at 599,900 NOK.

While the spacious seven-seater BYD Tang SUV is especially appealing to families, its versatility and stylish design is also garnering strong interest from different types of consumers. Being an all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Tang is ideal for those looking for a more adventurous drive; a perfect solution for Norway’s mountainous terrain and winter conditions.

Designed by Wolfgang Egger, the BYD Tang combines sleek and sporty lines with the very latest vehicle technology. Competitively priced within its category, the BYD Tang is fast establishing its position in Norway as an all-round value for money pure-electric SUV.

Globally, BYD has enjoyed a record-breaking November for sales across the range of its pure-electric NEV passenger cars, reinforcing its longstanding position as the world’s leading New Energy Vehicle manufacturer. It follows a period of nine consecutive months of sales growth for BYD. By the end of November, the cumulative annual sales of BYD NEV passenger vehicles topped 500,922 units, underscoring its leadership in the global NEV sector.

Pivotal to the success of the Tang is BYD’s 26 years of experience in pioneering battery research and development. The Tang is equipped with BYD’s revolutionary 86.4kWh ultra-safe Blade Battery which powers the car from 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and provides an unparalleled driving range of 325 miles. It also benefits from impressively fast charging from 30% to 80% in 30 minutes using a DC power output of 110kW.

Frank Dunvold, CEO of RSA, said: “We have enjoyed fantastic demand for the BYD Tang in just a few months since its launch, and we see this escalating at pace in 2022. The people of Norway are very environmentally conscious, and the pure-electric zero-emission Tang SUV is the perfect fit. It is stylish, comfortable and offers great driving performance, while being practical too. We don’t see demand slowing down and we are fortunate to have good levels of supply coming through, which means customers are not having to wait for extended periods of time for delivery.”

Michael Shu, Managing Director, BYD Europe, said: “We are delighted with the positive customer reaction to the Tang, our very first electric passenger car sold in Norway. We always listen to customers and the feedback has been superb. Our goal is to continually exceed customer expectations, so we are truly motivated and inspired by the results achieved in the first four months of sale. The Tang features BYD’s very latest innovation in ultrasafe, high-performance battery technology stemming from our long-established world-leading expertise in this field. Our Blade Battery is a real game-changer for the industry and this, along with the use of BYD’s highly advanced integrated electronic technology, makes the Tang stand out in the pure-electric SUV market.”

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2022 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD’s Car Sales Rise 75.4% YoY and Up 77.9% in December

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD reported it sold 97,990 passenger vehicles in December, up 77.9% year-on-year, and BYD’s passenger vehicles sales reached 730,093 for 2021, up 75.4% YoY.

BYD’s annual passenger new energy vehicle (NEV) sales grew by 231.6% YoY to 593,745, setting a new sales record in China. NEV sales rose sharply by 236.4% YoY and reached 92,823 units in December.

In December, BYD EV and hybrid models sold 48,317 and 44,506 units with YoY growth of 148.0% and 448.6%, respectively. BYD sales volume has achieved record high, thanks to the core technologies including the blade battery, DM-i (BYD’s super hybrid system), as well as the e-platform 3.0. The annual EV and DM model sales reached 320,810 and 272,935 with YoY growth of 144.9% and 467.6%, respectively.

BYD sold 13,701 units of Han model, a leading position among mid-to-large size sedans from Chinese local brands in December. In particular, 10,301 units of the Han EV were sold. The Tang SUV series sold 9,000 units last December, with almost 100% YoY growth, which showed its outstanding product power with a total of 54,204-unit sales in 2021.

The Yuan series sold 8,577 units last December and over 41,000 units in 2021, making it a leader in the small all-electric SUV segment. The Yuan Plus started its pre-sales in China on 2022 New Year’s Day. As the very first SUV built on the e-platform 3.0, the Yuan Plus will be launched to the Singapore market in 2022.

In December, the sales of EA1 surpassed 10,000 units easily, reaching 10,016 units in only one month. The EA1 has met the market demands precisely and become the most popular vehicle in the segment.

In 2021, BYD has accomplished monthly sales growth for 10 consecutive months. In response to China’s strategic goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality, as well as to make contributions to the “Cool the Earth by 1℃” initiative. BYD, as the Chinese NEV industry leader, will leverage its unique advantages to offer more NEVs and other green solutions in 2022.

BYD is aiming to sell 1.2 million vehicles in 2022.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2022 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD to Sell Yuan Plus EV in Singapore

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD will launch its fully electric SUV BYD Yuan Plus in Singapore in the second quarter of 2022 with its official dealer in Singapore, E-Auto.

The Yuan Plus was first unveiled at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show in China, attracting wide attention from young-generation consumers. This SUV marks a new era of BYD vehicles in Singapore, promising improved power, a new design language, and an excellent battery range.

E-Auto is a division of Vantage Automotive and a member of the Sime Darby Motors group. The partnership with E-Auto is an important milestone for BYD to develop passenger vehicles in Singapore.

“With the EV market boom, we’ve seen growing interest in BYD passenger cars in Singapore,” said Mr. Christopher Chin, Managing Director of Vantage Automotive Limited. “We are proud to partner with BYD to offer the Singapore market an alternative EV model that’s backed by a proven and revolutionary technology. The Yuan Plus is also one of the most exciting models in BYD’s line-up and is sure to appeal to drivers here.”

Mr. James Ng, Managing Director of BYD Singapore, said: “We are anticipating strong interest in this newly launched BYD Yuan Plus in Singapore as it features BYD’s latest e-platform 3.0 and highly regarded Blade Battery technology. We believe that the Yuan Plus will appeal to a wider audience and please drivers with its improved power and modern design.”

Embodying BYD’s new design language – Dragon Face 3.0 – and a sporty themed interior, the Yuan Plus will feature a modern design and will be packed with a 150kW and 310Nm electric drive motor. The Yuan Plus will come in two options. The entry-level is available in ‘standard’ with a 250 mile range and 50kWh battery, while the premium variant is available in an extended range with a 310 mile range and 60kWh battery.

The BYD Yuan Plus offers a large space akin to standard A-SUVs with a wheelbase of 8 feet, 11 inches. BYD’s revolutionary Blade Battery technology will come as a standard in the Yuan Plus, which offers drivers industry-leading safety levels, a longer life cycle, and extensive single-charge range capabilities.

BYD’s e-platform 3.0 is designed for the next generation of high-performance smart EVs and offers four major advantages: safety, efficiency, intelligence, and aesthetics. It will further integrate and standardize core components in a brand-new body structure, digital and electrical architecture, and a revamped BYD vehicle operating system.

BYD’s Blade Battery elevates safety levels for EVs while increasing the space utilization of the battery pack by over 50%, compared with conventional lithium iron phosphate block batteries. This helps reduce the total weight of the car, which in turn improves energy efficiency and the range.

Specific details of the car will be announced closer to the launch.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD Sells 70 More eBuses to Finland

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD, the world’s leading eBus manufacturer, has secured another high-volume order for its zero-emission electric buses from Nobina in Finland. Nobina, the largest public transport operator in the Nordic region, has ordered a further 70 latest generation BYD eBuses in a strategic move to expand its fast evolving “green fleet.”

This latest order from Nobina Finland spans two of BYD’s best-selling electric bus models, comprising 42 units of the 42-foot bus model and 28 units of BYD’s 50-foot model. They are scheduled for delivery next summer, 2022 and will primarily operate on city routes in the Helsinki Metropolitan area.

The electric buses benefit from the latest generation BYD Iron-Phosphate Battery technology for optimized battery life and a longer driving range. The 42-foot model delivers a single charge range of 250 miles, while its larger 50-foot counterpart enjoys over 280 miles.

This is Nobina Finland’s second major order for BYD pure-electric buses, having taken delivery of 119 units in the summer of 2021. Combined, these buses have quietly and cleanly driven more than one 620,000 miles in Finland, saving 1400 tons of CO2 emissions. BYD is pleased and proud to support Nobina Finland on its green journey.

Nobina is a high-profile name in sustainable public transport throughout Scandinavia and, like BYD, places great emphasis on reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

The successful commercial relationship between Nobina and BYD, which initially started in 2015, continues to flourish as a result of the close synergy between the two brands and their core values in driving a greener world. Nobina currently has over 300 BYD electric buses operating in towns and cities across Sweden, Norway and Finland.

BYD buses are living up to their reputation for reliability in tough climatic conditions as demonstrated by those vehicles operating in the town of Piteå in North East Sweden. Close to the Artic Circle, Piteå with a latitude of 65.31° north, is the most northerly location in Europe. Thirteen 40-foot buses are in operation in this area following their delivery in May 2021.

Petri Auno, CEO, Nobina Finland, said: “Nobina is totally committed to sustainable transportation and this latest order for additional BYD electric buses is a testament to our strategy to replenish our fleet with clean, zero-emissions solutions that are kind to the environment. We continue to select BYD buses based on their excellent track record for reliability, operational efficiency, performance, safety and of course, for the comfort they provide to our passengers. BYD buses now account for 25% of our Nobina Finland fleet and we look forward to enhancing this in the future.”

Isbrand Ho, Managing Director, BYD Europe B.V., said: “We are delighted to have been awarded another prestigious order from Nobina Finland. Scandinavia is fast embracing eMobility, as demonstrated by the many hundreds of BYD eBuses already in operation across the Nordics. As an established and valued customer, with whom BYD shares so many environmental and ethical values, we are very pleased to support Nobina’s sustainable goals as it continues on its green, electric journey.”

Around 600 BYD electric buses have either been delivered, or are on order, from public transport operators and authorities across 20 cities in the Nordics. These pure-electric, eco-friendly buses have clocked up more than 18.6 million zero-emission miles, reducing CO2 emissions by 32,000 tons.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Berkshire-Backed BYD’s HAN EV Enters Dominican Republic

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has announced that its flagship NEV sedan, the Han, has debuted in the Dominican Republic.

The BYD Han has already arrived in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas. The official launching in the Dominican Republic sets another important milestone for BYD in the LATAM and the Caribbean passenger vehicle market.

As the world’s first mass-produced model that applied BYD’s ultra-safe Blade Battery, the HAN EV can achieve 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.9 seconds. The intelligent electric high performance AWD HAN EV boasts a range of up to 550 km(NEDC test cycle) with a drag coefficient of 0.233 Cd which can reduce power consumption while improving driving range.

Nelson Peña, President of Peravia Motors S.A. says, “People’s preference for fuel vehicles is one of the main reasons for global warming. This is why we want to provide new energy solutions and always abide by the highest standards for technologies, safety, and warranties.”

“BYD is one of the most valuable NEV brands in the world and it plays a key role in the EV market. Therefore, we decided to introduce BYD EVs into the Dominican market,” says Sebastián Peña, BYD Brand Leader and Business Director in Peravia Motors S.A..

To protect the forests and ocean in this country, the Dominican government issued Decree 103-13 in 2013, which declares that the customs duties and value-added taxes on electric vehicles will be reduced to 50% of that of the fuel vehicles for the development of clean energy.

About BYD

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Berkshire-Backed Paytm Tumbles on IPO Debut

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed mobile payment company Paytm fell 26 percent in its stock market debut on Thursday, with intraday trading sending the stock down as much as 28 percent from its issue price.

Paytm is India’s largest mobile payments and commerce platform, and its IPO was touted as India’s largest to date.

The IPO had been projected to be at a valuation of between $24 billion to $25 billion with the company raising around $2.3 billion.

Founded in 2009, Paytm is an Indian e-commerce payment system and financial technology company, based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

In 2018, Berkshire Hathaway made a $356 million investment for a 3-4% stake in One97 Communications Ltd, the parent of Paytm.

In addition to Berkshire Hathaway, China’s Alibaba and Japan’s SoftBank are also stakeholders.

The investment was made by Berkshire portfolio manager Todd Combs, who said at the time, “I have been impressed by Paytm and am excited about being a part of its growth story, as it looks to transform payments and financial services in India.”

“Berkshire’s experience in financial services, and long-term investment horizon is going to be a huge advantage in Paytm’s journey of bringing 500 million Indians to the mainstream economy through financial inclusion,” Paytm’s founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said in 2018.

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Sets 5th Monthly Passenger Vehicle Sales Record

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD sold 88,898 passenger vehicles in October, increasing 90.9% year on year (YoY) and 12.5% month on month (MoM), according to the official data.

In particular, the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales reached 80,003 units, soaring 262.9% YoY.

By the end of October, the cumulative annual sales of BYD passenger vehicles topped 200,000 units.

The continued contribution of the DM-i technology fueled further success for the DM model, which saw 38,771 units sold in October, up 444.1% YoY,positioning BYD as a dominant player in China’s plug-in hybrid vehicles market.

Globally, the DM-i model also holds an important position. The Qin Plus DM-i and Song Plus DM-i took the 4th and 8th places, among PHEV market worldwide in August with sales of 13,043 and 8,731 units respectively, according to data from EV SALES/EV VOLUME.

BYD battery-electric vehicles (BEV) witnessed steady growth in sales with 41,232 units sold in October, holding its leadership in a fast-growing local BEV market.

BYD Han, the flagship NEV sedan of the Dynasty series, sold 11,087 units in October. According to China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), BYD Han ranked second among the sales rankings of mid-to-large size sedans, with sales of 10,248 units in September. So far, BYD Han’s cumulative sales have exceeded 130,000 units, with increases for seven consecutive months.

BYD e-platform 3.0 solves battery-related safety problems of the NEV and increases its range at low temperatures. It will alter people’s stereotype of BEVs. EA1, the very first model built upon this platform also enjoyed popularity in the market with 6,018 units sold in October, becoming the biggest contributor to the market for NEVs priced at around RMB 100,000.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.