BYD Company is the parent of the electric-car maker BYD Auto and the battery producer FinDreams.
BYD Company was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu in Shenzhen, China. It initially concentrated on rechargeable batteries, supplying products for mobile phones and other electronics. The company later expanded into automobiles, rail transit, electronics, and renewable-energy technologies.
BYD entered the automotive industry by acquiring Qinchuan Machinery Works in 2003. BYD Auto developed hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, while the wider group continued making batteries and electronic components. FinDreams is a BYD subsidiary group that includes businesses focused on batteries, powertrains, electronics, and other automotive technologies.
BYD is sometimes confused with BYD Auto because the names are closely linked. BYD Company is the broader corporate entity, while BYD Auto is its vehicle division. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased shares in BYD in 2008, helping bring international attention to the Chinese manufacturer.