Stella Li recognised for BYD’s industry leadership in 2025
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD, was named World Car Person of the Year 2025, recognising her role in guiding BYD through a landmark period of global growth, innovation, and industry influence.
The honor reflects not only Stella Li’s vision and leadership, but also the work of 110,000 BYD R&D engineers driving breakthroughs in electric and Super Hybrid DM-i technology which is helping bring sustainable mobility to more people around the world.
This recognition marked a proud milestone for BYD and its impact on the global automotive industry.
- Xataka Legend 2025: Awarded for her leadership in global electric mobility and her role in guiding BYD’s innovation.
- TIME100 Climate: Recognised in late 2023 by TIME magazine as one of the most influential leaders driving climate action globally.
- Global Expansion: She established BYD’s first overseas office in Hong Kong (1997), followed by European headquarters in Rotterdam (1999) and North American headquarters in Los Angeles (2011).
Her Key Responsibilities At BYD
- Overseas Growth: Li oversees BYD’s international operations, including the rapid expansion of EV sales in Europe and the Americas.
- Manufacturing Strategy: She managed the opening of BYD’s electric bus and truck factories in Lancaster, California (2013) and continues to spearhead local production initiatives in regions like Brazil, Hungary, and Thailand to deepen market penetration.
- Brand Diversification: She is currently leading the launch of BYD’s luxury brands, such as Denza, in European markets.
Her Career And Education Background
- Education: She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Fudan University in 1992.
- Early Career: Before joining BYD in 1996 as a marketing manager, she worked at Global Sources, a B2B media company.
- Personal Philosophy: Li is a strong advocate for sustainable mobility and women’s leadership in the technology and automotive sectors
