Buses manufactured by Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD will be rolling in Annapolis, Maryland, after the city purchased two BYD battery-electric K7M transit buses, which will be the first in its transit fleet.
The BYD K7M seats up to 22 passengers and includes two optional ADA compliant wheelchair positions. BYD buses are equipped with unique iron-phosphate batteries that are recognized as the safest in the industry, and are built with low-floors to enhance accessibility and safety for its passengers.
“BYD is proud to join Annapolis as it starts down the path toward electrification” said BYD Senior Vice President Patrick Duan. “Annapolis is such a beautiful city, full of rich history and it’s an honor to be a part of its journey toward a greener, cleaner future.”
The Annapolis Department of Transportation, which operates Annapolis Transit, aims to provide the highest level of reliable, safe, customer-focused, accessible and efficient public transportation throughout its city. Annapolis Transit plans to enhance the quality of life through making environmentally conscious decisions with clean energy transit.
“We all have to make changes in our lives and routines to become less reliant on energy sources that contribute to climate change and sea level rise,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley. “Migrating our transit fleet from fossil fuels to electric is a step the City of Annapolis can take. We are very happy to be moving forward with this acquisition.”
The buses will be built by members of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) workers Union, Local 105, in BYD’s manufacturing facility located in Lancaster, California.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD is working with NVIDIA to bring NVIDIA GeForce NOW cloud game streaming to its vehicles.
BYD demonstrated how technological innovation is enhancing the automotive smart cockpit and bringing users an immersive gaming experience during NVIDIA’s CES 2023 special address.
NVIDIA GeForce NOW can stream a real-time, full PC gaming experience to desktops, laptops, TVs, and mobile devices, and now to software-defined cars. GeForce NOW will enable occupants of these vehicles to stream games while parked or charging a NEV.
“We are excited to offer our customers the best in technology, comfort, and design from BYD and now the latest in gaming through NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW high-performance cloud gaming service. The experience of driving our cars is becoming increasingly sophisticated, entertaining, and sustainable”, said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited and CEO of BYD Americas.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has shipped 1200 units of BYD DM-i super hybrid vehicles to Colombia from Xi’an, China.
The exported fleet consists of 200 units of BYD QIN PLUS DM-i and 1000 units of SONG PLUS DM-i, marking an all-time high for individual export volume of DM-i hybrid vehicles from BYD. It marks another step in BYD’s expansion into the Latin American market.
The BYD QIN PLUS DM-i and SONG PLUS DM-i were first launched in the Colombian market in March 2022. The two models, equipped with DM-i hybrid technology, were favored by Colombian consumers for their high fuel efficiency, long cruising range, and premium exterior and interior designs.
Since 2020, BYD has cooperated with its local distributor Motorysa to introduce a series of BYD new energy passenger vehicles to Colombia, including the large- and mid-sized luxury flagship HAN EV, luxury pure electric TANG SUV, and high-end plug-in hybrid models such as the QIN PLUS DM-i and SONG PLUS DM-i.
BYD has delivered nearly 3,000 NEV models to Colombia to date. The company becomes one of the major new energy passenger vehicle brands in the local market, contributing to the green transformation of Colombia’s transportation.
BYD has launched its new energy products in major Latin American countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.
The brand has earned a reputation for its eco-friendly and high-tech products as BYD continues to promote the electrification of transportation in Latin America. With an increasing number of its NEV models being introduced overseas, BYD will create a new wave of green travel in the region.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD’s cars are still not available in the U.S., but they are getting closer and closer. BYD recently unveiled its luxury sedan HAN EV and all-electric SUV TANG EV at a test drive event in Mexico.
BYD announced its partnership with eight local dealers: Grupo Continental, Grupo Cleber, Grupo Dalton, Grupo Excelencia, Grupo Farrera, Grupo Fame, Liverpool, and Grupo del Rincón. The global enterprise is expected to expand its local presence in the country and introduce its top-of-the-line new energy vehicles (NEVs) to the Mexican market in 2023.
Zhou Zou, Country Manager of BYD Mexico, stated, “We are happy with this new step BYD is taking in Mexico. We want to be a long-term partner with projects that promote zero-emission solutions in the country. BYD Mexico now boasts more than 9 years of local experience, achieving significant milestones in new energy taxis, trucks, and forklifts. Today marks a new milestone for BYD, and we will bring new energy passenger vehicles to Mexican users in the first half of 2023.”
As BYD’s flagship Sedan, HAN EV comes equipped with BYD’s revolutionary Blade Battery, which offers outstanding performance in terms of safety and range. With a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.9 seconds, participants were allowed to enjoy the incredible handling experience of electric vehicles.
Neva Zhang, the Commercial Director of BYD Mexico, noted that BYD is excited to grow its global market presence in Mexico. “To cope with industrial transformation and ever-changing consumer trends, BYD will continue to focus on technological innovation”, said Zhang, “In addition, we will always respond to people’s pursuit of a better life with advanced technologies and diversified products.”
Electromobility is an environmental and economic trend. In Mexico, 50% of polluting emissions are generated from the use of electricity and transportation, with one-fifth stemming from transportation emissions, according to Statista, a global data collecting platform. Thus, reducing the emissions generated by motor transport must be a priority in the future.
For over 20 years, BYD has provided excellent sustainable electric vehicles experience to global users. On November 2022, BYD hit a new milestone with the 3 millionth NEV produced. By working with local partners, BYD will build a localized sales and service system, to ensure better consumer experiences for Mexican users.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway is continuing its reduction of the number of shares it owns in Chinese automaker BYD. Berkshire sold 5.78 million of BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares on November 8, according to its latest stock exchange filing.
The latest sale reduces Berkshire’s stake in BYD to 16.62 percent.
Berkshire first began trimming its stake in BYD in mid-July, and just last week, Berkshire sold 3.297 million Hong Kong-listed shares.
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD is aiming for rapid expansion of its retail stores across Brazil, as it boosts its sales of automobiles in the country and partners with Santander Bank to offer customers auto financing.
Currently, BYD has nine stores in the Brazilian market. Its local presence is projected to reach 45 cities by the end of 2022 and reach 100 locations by the end of 2023.
Besides vehicles, BYD Brazil also offers customers overall new energy solutions, which include the generation of clean energy by photovoltaic modules manufactured by BYD.
BYD Brazil has signed a strategic partnership with Santander Bank, the leading bank in automotive financing in Brazil. This will furnish one-stop auto financing services for the customers, from credit analysis, and credit approval, to payment options through a fully digital platform. Also, the partnership will benefit the local dealers to manage and grow their business of electric passenger vehicles.
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.
Sales of Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD’s joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, the D9 premium MPV, started deliveries Sunday, and sales are already going through the roof. Presales racked up 30,000 orders for the multipurpose vehicle that they market under the upscale Denza brand.
Engineered and produced in and for the China market, the DENZA brand combines Daimler’s vehicle architecture expertise with BYD’s leading battery technology.
The D9 is offered as both a plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicle, and the EV boasts a 500KM range.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has launched the premium electric SUV, BYD-ATTO 3, India’s First Sporty Born E-SUV.
This marks BYD’s official entry into the Indian passenger vehicle market with its brand mission of “Technological Innovations For A Better Life.”
Equipped with the ultra-safe Blade Battery and the born EV platform (e-Platform 3.0), BYD-ATTO 3 features fast charging from 0% to 80% within 50 mins, a range of 521km according to ARAI tests with a higher battery capacity of 60.48kWh, and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.3s. With a sporty and powerful exterior and rhythmic interior, BYD-ATTO 3 also features L2 Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) BYD Dipilot, 7 airbags, the panoramic sunroof, a 12.8-inch adaptive rotating suspension electronic pad, 360° holographic transparent imaging system, NFC card key, the Vehicle to Load (VTOL) mobile power station and other leading configuration, making this car competitive in the market.
BYD-ATTO 3 is the first model in India built on the e-Platform 3.0, which is designed for the next generation of pure electric vehicles with the Blade Battery, an 8-in-1 electric powertrain, and highly integrated domain controllers. The platform features the world’s first 8-in-1 electric powertrain (with drive motor, motor controller, reducer, onboard charger, DC converter, high-voltage distribution box, vehicle controller, and Battery Management System (BMS) integrated), resulting in a 20% overall size reduction and 15% weight reduction and allowing the overall efficiency to exceed 89%.
BYD-ATTO 3 is powered by the Blade Battery, which passes the nail penetration test, one of the industry’s most rigorous tests for batteries. The battery also emerged unscathed and fully operational after a 46-tonne truck drove over it without exhibiting leakage, deformation, or smoke.
BYD-ATTO 3 features sharp lines and a strong, sporty posture adding to the vigorous aesthetics of the Dragon Face 3.0 design language led by Wolfgang Egger, BYD’s Design Director. Its advanced, intelligent cabin is styled in the spirit of sports and competition. Inspired by the interior design concept of gym and music, BYD-ATTO 3 exhibits passion, energy, and power.
The car is equipped with a panoramic sunroof measuring 1,261 mm long and 849 mm wide with electric slide and anti-pinch features. It also comes standard with a 12.8-inch adaptive rotating suspension electronic pad supporting a 360° holographic transparent imaging system. The panoramic sunroof and imaging system are the largest among cars in the segment.
BYD-ATTO 3 is also equipped with a mobile power station that allows the vehicle to transform into a super mobile power bank. This power station supports power up to 3.3kw, satisfying most needs of high-power electrical appliances.
BYD-ATTO 3 provides intelligent driving systems and multi-sensor layouts with the BYD DiPilot L2 driving assist system. It is also equipped with 7 airbags, a robust steel body structure, and a safety-oriented chassis design.
The car also has other features such as mobile phone wireless charging, one-touch electric control tailgate, NFC card key, an 8-speaker audio system, electric seat adjustment, voice control, LED headlamps, LED rear lights, multi-color gradient ambient lighting that responds to music rhythm, PM 2.5 air filter, CN95 air filter, etc.
Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, Senior Vice President of Electric Passenger Vehicles of BYD India, said, “We are happy to announce the launch of our much-acclaimed electric SUV in India. With proven and innovative technology, we are on track towards building a stronger ecosystem that facilitates EV adoption in our country. The launch of BYD-ATTO 3 is a step towards this mission. We will constantly contribute to building a greener future.”
“BYD has two plants in India covering more than 140,000 sqm with 3,000 employees and a cumulative investment of over $200 million in the country. We are fully committed to India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and will promote sustainability and zero emissions by introducing pure electric vehicles and the latest technologies. We intend to sell 15,000 units of BYD-ATTO 3 in India over the next year and plan to set up a local manufacturing facility in the due course.” Added by Ketsu Zhang, Executive Director of BYD India.
BYD has 24 showrooms across 21 cities in India and aims to expand to at least 53 showrooms by the end of 2023. Furthermore, BYD India plans to participate in the Auto Expo 2023 and will debut more products and technologies for the Indian market. BYD will continue to leverage technological innovations for a better life, promote sustainable development of society, and implement its “Cool the Earth by 1°C” initiative.
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.
In July 2022, Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD sold a total of 162,530 new energy vehicles, which includes 162,214 new energy passenger vehicles.
The sales represent a 183% YOY increase from July 2021.
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 $7.69 billion as of December 31, 2021.
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.
Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD, one the world’s leading manufacturers of new energy vehicles, has been named to the Fortune Global 500 list.
Fortune noted that BYD’s aggregate sales increase of 19% is the highest annual growth rate in the list’s history.
BYD’s high-tech enterprise encompasses a product line that includes battery electric automobiles, heavy duty electric vehicles including transit buses and Class 8 trucks, rail transit products including SkyRail, Type D and Type A battery electric school buses, material handling and new energy solutions and electronic devices.
Backed by its innovative technologies, such as the Blade Battery, DM-i super hybrid technology, and the e-platform, BYD sold 730,093 passenger vehicles in 2021, including 593,745 new energy passenger vehicles, with a YoY increase of 231.6%. In the first half of 2022, BYD sold 638,157 new energy passenger vehicles, up 324.8% YoY.
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 $7.69 billion as of December 31, 2021.
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.