Shanghai (ZXZC)- BYD experienced an unusual year in 2020. It launched a heavyweight flagship NEV model, the BYD Han, that rapidly became popular among consumers. The company continued expanding its circle of friends by joining hands with some global automakers like Toyota and Hino. As for the breakthroughs in new technologies, BYD launched the “blade battery” that caught the eye of many industry insiders.

BYD Han; photo credit: BYD

Let's step back and take a look at what's happened last year at BYD.

BYD records 7.46% year-on-year decrease in 2020 auto sales

BYD closed its year of 2020 with an annual sales volume of 426,972 units, a year-on-year decrease of 7.46%, according to the company's announcement.

Due to the impact of coronavirus pandemic, the year-on-year change in monthly sales remained negative through the first half of 2020. The single-digit decrease in full-year sales was attributed to the incessant rise during the second half of the year.

Annual new energy vehicle (NEV) sales slid 17.35% to 189,689 units. The NEV unit was posting year-over-year decrease of over 45% in monthly sales during the first six months and started rebounding from September. In December, BYD saw its NEV sales surge 120.18% over the prior-year period to 28,841 units.

BYD, Hino ink agreement to build JV for all-electric CV development

BYD Auto Industry Company Limited, a subsidiary of BYD Company Limited, entered into a joint venture agreement with Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino) on October 21 to set up a new company for the development of battery electric commercial vehicles, according to a posting on BYD's WeChat account.

The new joint venture was set to be established in China in 2021, and would be evenly held by BYD and Hino. It would integrate the strengths of both parent companies to develop all-electric CVs and EV-used auto parts, aiming to quickly offer ideal products in line with customers' demands, primarily in the Asian market.

BYD's full-sized Han sedan hits market with price starting at 219,800 yuan

BYD's flagship full-sized sedan, the BYD Han, eventually hit the market on July 12. Priced between 229,800 yuan ($32,820) and 279,500 yuan ($39,918), the BEV version comes with three variants. Besides, the PHEV version, namely, the Han DM, is sold at 219,800 yuan ($31,391).

With dimensions of 4,980mm/4,960mm long, 1,910mm wide and 1,495mm tall and a wheelbase spanning 2,929mm, the BYD Han plays in the league of full-sized sedans. Thanks to a silhouette of a four-door coupe, the new vehicle features a drag coefficient of 0.233 Cd, lowered than that of the Tesla Model S. 

BYD Semiconductor raises 800 million yuan from 30 investors

BYD Company Limited (BYD) announced on June 15 its subsidiary BYD Semiconductor Co.,Ltd. had introduced another 30 strategic investors, which would give it significant impetus to the process of becoming a publicly-listed company.

The investors agreed to make a capital increase of 799,999,999 yuan ($113,008,720) to BYD Semiconductor based on the latter's valuation of 7.5 billion ($1,059,456,750) before investment, of which 32,021,077.24 yuan ($4,523,326) will be included in the subsidiary's increased registered capital and 767,978,921.76 yuan ($108,485,394) will be included in the capital reserve, according to BYD's announcement.

Toyota, BYD announce founding of EV R&D JV

Both Japanese auto giant Toyota and China's BYD announced on April 2 the formal establishment of their joint venture that focuses on R&D of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), showing their resolution to jointly deploy in BEV field.

Since they signed an agreement for the forming of the BEV R&D joint venture on November 7, 2019, the preparations have been actively pushing ahead with, and the operations are scheduled to commerce in May 2020, said two companies.

BYD launches blade battery to “put end to spontaneous combustions in EVs”

On March 29, China's leading NEV manufacturer BYD formally launched the “blade battery”, a new type of new lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP battery) that will largely increase the energy density of battery pack with greater safety.

“The launch of 'blade battery' demonstrates BYD's resolution to thoroughly solve the pain points of NEV safety and our better capability in guiding global battery industry back on track, so as to put an end to spontaneous combustions in EVs,” said Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD.

BYD announces foundation of five auto parts subsidiaries

BYD recently announced in March the establishment of five subsidiaries, in a bid to speed up the sale of NEV-related core components.

The five companies share a same “surname” Fudi, quoting a verse from Book of Songs, the first anthology of ancient Chinese poetry. The name embodies the meaning of honesty, integrity, diligence and aspiration.

BYD works as the world's biggest mask producer with 5 million units of daily capacity

If it were not for the combat against the novel coronavirus, people would never expect that today's largest facial mask producer in the world is an automaker.

BYD, the Shenzhen-based vehicle manufacturer backed by Warren Buffett, has now taken the leading place with a daily capacity of 5 million masks. After the company announced on Feb. 8 the resolute decision to produce the urgently needed medical supplies, all production lines running at full capacity are currently able to output 5 million masks and 300,000 bottles of disinfectant.

BYD, Daimler once again adds capital to NEV joint venture DENZA

On January 14, registered capital of Shenzhen DENZA New Energy Automotive Co.,Ltd (DENZA), a joint venture between BYD and Daimler, was increased by 700 million yuan to 5.76 billion yuan, according to an update record from corporate data platform Tianyancha.

Founded in 2011 with an initial registered capital of 2.36 billion yuan, Denza is 50/50 held by BYD Auto Industry Company Limited, a subsidiary of BYD, and Daimler Greater China Ltd. (DGRC). Prior to the latest capital increase, both parent companies had together pumped 1 billion yuan, 800 million yuan, 400 million yuan and 300 million yuan in May 2017, May 2018, February 2019 and May 2019 respectively.

BYD appoints former GM China president Kevin Wale as senior adviser

BYD named Kevin Wale, former president of General Motors (GM) China, as a senior adviser to the electric car maker's chairman, it said on January 13. The automaker said in a statement that Wale would counsel BYD on automobile marketing and brand building as well as sales service improvement.

Wale suggested electrified vehicles and other automotive products using new technologies would be key growth points in the future. China, the world's largest auto market, he said, would have significant roles to play. He would support BYD, an innovator in electrification and customer-centric technologies, by virtue of his experience.