Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD, made history by becoming the first woman and the first representative of China to win the prestigious World Car Person of the Year award, granted by the World Car Awards in 2025.
- Award judges recognize BYD's progress in 2024;
- Successful year includes milestone of 10 million electrified vehicles produced;
- Executive Stella Li is praised for her "exceptional work, vision and determination";
- The votes came from leading media outlets in 30 countries around the world.
BYD's Executive Vice President, Stella Li, has been chosen by the World Car Awards as the "Global Automotive Personality of the Year 2025". The choice, made by renowned industry journalists around the world, is in recognition of the advances made by BYD, a global leader in electrified vehicles under her leadership throughout 2024.
Part of the renowned awards, the title of World Automotive Personality of the Year goes to people who have made significant contributions to the automotive industry in the previous year. The committee selects the top candidates and the winner is chosen by a jury made up of 96 specialist journalists representing 30 countries. Previous winners include illustrious figures such as Formula 1 designer Adrian Neway and Toyota president Akio Toyoda.
Executive Stella Li won the award after a very successful year for BYD. In addition to an excellent sales performance in China, the company's electrified vehicles gained significant market share in markets such as Brazil and Mexico. BYD also recorded strong expansion in strategic regions such as Europe, reaching important production milestones. In November 2024, greentech reached the impressive milestone of 10 million new energy vehicles produced - an unprecedented achievement in the sector. Today, BYD employs more than one million people around the world, including more than 110,000 professionals dedicated to research and development.
This investment in R&D has allowed BYD to introduce global breakthroughs such as the world's fastest mass-produced electric motor (23,000 rpm), present in the recently launched Sealion 7, and the latest generation DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligent) plug-in hybrid vehicles, which offer greater efficiency to cater for consumers who are not yet willing to migrate to electric 100% models.
In addition to its passenger car business, BYD continues to implement a unique strategy that goes beyond the use of energy in transportation to its capture and storage. With its advances, technologies and products, the company is shaping the global automotive industry in ways that seemed impossible 30 years ago, when it was founded as a battery manufacturer in Shenzhen, China.
"It is a great honor to receive such prestigious recognition. This award is the result of the exceptional work of BYD's 110,000 R&D engineers, who are dedicated to delivering the most advanced technologies, reflected in the electric vehicles and DM-I Super Hybrid technology. I am very proud to contribute to bringing these sustainable technologies to as many consumers as possible around the world," says Stella Li, expressing her gratitude on receiving the award.
"Stella Li impressed the judging panel with her exceptional work as a key figure in BYD's continued global growth. Her vision and determination have made BYD a major player on the automotive scene in a short period of time, and her influence is not only seen within BYD, but throughout the automotive industry. We are honored to announce Stella as the World Car 2025 Automotive Personality of the Year," commented Jens Meiners, chairman emeritus of the World Car Awards.
The Global Automotive Personality of the Year is part of the The Road to the World Car AwardsThe World Car of the Year Awards are a journey that takes the judges through an extensive period of test drives and voting. Now in its 21st year, the World Car of the Year Awards take place at a ceremony at the New York International Auto Show in April. In addition to Stella Li's award, BYD products are also being recognized in 2025: the Dolphin Mini has been shortlisted for the World City Car of the Year category.
