The History of BYD

The History of BYD

Find out more about BYD (Build Your Dreams) and their mission to change the future of electric mobility.

Chinese car manufacturer BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, was founded in February 1995. They will soon be joining the Bristol Street Motors family as we open dealerships in Gloucester and Worcester.

Ahead of their arrival, we’re exploring the history of the brand from 1995 to becoming the world’s largest EV manufacturer.

When was BYD founded?

In February 1995, the BYD brand was established in Shenzen, China. At first, they solely produced batteries before entering the automotive industry in 2003.

Their mission was to develop electric cars which used their batteries and other vehicle technology.

What was the first BYD car?

Just two years after making the move to the automotive industry, BYD launched their first car – the F3 in 2005.

The compact car proved to be a huge success with over one million sales alone in China. A plug-in hybrid version was later introduced called the BYD F3DM.

It boasted a fully electric range of 37 miles and a hybrid electric powertrain which extended the range by a further 300 miles. As well as being China’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid car.

BYD cars over the years

2010 – BYD e6

The e6 was introduced by BYD to address transportation issues in urban areas. Designed with taxi services in mind, the spacious interior provided ample space for passengers and luggage.

2012 – BYD Qin

Arriving in 2012 as the successor to the F3DM was the Qin. The plug-in hybrid offered a fully electric range of 51 miles and utilised BYD’s forward-thinking electric powertrain. The model is still available today as a plug-in hybrid and pure EV.

2015 – BYD Tang

Fast forward five years and the electric vehicle market continued to boom in China which led to the introduction of the Tang. The stylish midsize SUV displayed BYD’s ethos of fusing together technology, style, and performance.

2020 – BYD Han

The sporty Han made its debut in 2020 and is still hugely popular to this day. It's available with a plug-in hybrid or fully electric powertrain. The latest generation model offers 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.9 seconds.

BYD battery technology

It only seems fitting that BYD has produced pioneering EV battery technology with their roots as a battery-only manufacturer.

BYD Blade Battery

After more than two decades of experience in the battery industry, BYD has developed the Blade Battery. Considered one of the world’s safest batteries, it has undergone rigorous testing in a variety of different conditions. The Blade Battery was also developed with efficiency as well as safety in mind.

Where is BYD today?

BYD is now the largest worldwide manufacturer of EVs. They continue to develop advanced technology to create safer and sustainable cars. In 2023 alone, they sold over three million vehicles across the globe.

Current models in the UK range include the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, and Seal U-DMi. You can explore the line-up in more detail, here.

As well as electric cars, they are also on a mission to cool the earth by 1-degree Celsius through electrified urban transportation.

BYD – coming soon to Bristol Street Motors

We’ll soon be welcoming BYD to Bristol Street Motors and can’t wait for you to meet the award-winning line-up. In the meantime, view our new electric car deals or visit our newsroom to stay up to date with the latest automotive news.

Explore the BYD range

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