Wang Chuanfu, BYD’s chairman and president, spoke at a press conference where the company showcased the first two models under its premium Yangwnag marque on Jan. 5, 2023
BYD’s chief executive and president Wang Chuanfu recently visited Xiaomi’s electric vehicle (EV) plant in Beijing accompanied by Xiaomi’s boss Lei Jun, according to videos circulated on the Chinese internet, showcasing the close ties between two of the country’s most successful EV companies. Details about the visit remain unknown, although local media reported that Lei’s key adviser Hu Zhengnan was also present. Hu previously led Geely’s general research institute and has been a partner at Shunwei Capital, a venture capital company co-founded by Xiaomi’s Lei, since late 2021. BYD and Xiaomi have collaborated for years, with the standard-version Xiaomi SU7 and YU7, the electronics giant’s first two EV models, featuring BYD’s affordable, iron-based “blade battery.” BYD, China’s biggest manufacturer of EVs and electronics products, has been a contract manufacturing partner of handsets for local smartphone makers including Huawei and Xiaomi, with approximately 90% of Huawei smartphones assembled by its Shenzhen rival. [Jiemian, in Chinese]
