KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD marked its 30th anniversary by celebrating the roll-out of its 10-millionth new energy vehicle (NEV) at its plant in Shenzhen.
NEVs refer to electrified vehicles such as plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles.
The landmark 10-millionth vehicle, a Denza Z9, was presented to Feng Ji, founder and CEO of Game Science, known for the popular game Black Myth: Wukong.
BYD is the first automaker to reach 10 million NEVs, a feat achieved after 15 years for the initial 5 million vehicles and just 15 months for the subsequent 5 million—a testament to the company’s rapid advancement in new energy technologies.
Wang (left) presenting Feng Ji the key to the Denza Z9.
BYD's chairman and president, Wang Chuanfu, reflected on the company's journey from a small startup with 20 employees to a multinational powerhouse with nearly one million staff.
He attributed BYD’s success to a foundation of strong vision, relentless execution, and a culture deeply embedded in engineering.
“The soul of BYD’s engineers is the soul of our company,” he stated, underscoring the company's reliance on technological expertise and its engineering-driven approach.
Chinese financial journalist Qin Shuo documented BYD’s journey in his book, "The Soul of Engineers" after interviewing nearly 100 of the company's executives and employees. This work offers insights into the company’s unique culture and its focus on innovation.
Looking ahead, Wang outlined BYD’s strategic roadmap, including the BYD Basic Guidelines — a comprehensive framework of principles and forward-looking strategies.
BYD plans to invest 100 billion yuan (RM62bil) in intelligent automotive technologies, integrating artificial intelligence across its vehicle lineup.
This investment aims to maintain BYD’s technological edge in the competitive global market, and is in tune with its commitment to sustainable development and enhancing quality of life.
About Denza Z9
The Z9 sedan was introduced at the Nov 15-24 Guangzhou Auto Show
It is available as a plug-in hybrid and an all-electric car. The plug-in hybrid is 334,800 yuan (RM208,000) , while the all-electric Z9 is 354,800 yuan (RM220,000) for the fully electric variant.
Powertrain options are:
>PHEV: A 2.0T engine paired with three motors (one front, two rear) producing a combined 392 kW and a 38.5 kWh battery with a 201 km electric range (CLTC).
> Electric version: Features a 100 kWh battery with a 630 km range, powered by three motors generating up to 710 kW.
Customer deliveries will start next month.
