BYD Executive Vice-President Stella Li has been voted 2025 World Car Person of the Year by a group of the world’s leading automotive journalists, recognising the progress made by the global leader in new-energy vehicles under her guidance during 2024.
Part of the World Car Awards, the World Car Person of the Year is awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the car industry over the past calendar year. The Awards committee curates a shortlist of worthy candidates and then the World Car Awards jurors – 96 distinguished automotive journalists from 30 countries – cast their votes for the winner. Previous winners include Formula One design legend Adrian Newey and Toyota boss Akio Toyoda.
Stella Li’s award – the first time a woman has been named World Car Person of the Year, and the first World Car Award of any kind for a Chinese manufacturer – comes after a hugely successful 12 months for BYD. As well as sales success in China, the company’s new-energy vehicles gained significant market share in new markets such as Brazil and Mexico, and expanded across key regions like Europe, helping BYD to achieve several production milestones. In November 2024 BYD produced its 10 millionth new-energy vehicle, a unique achievement in the industry, and the company now employs more than 900,000 people worldwide, including more than 110,000 staff in its research and development division.
This investment in R&D has allowed BYD to introduce global breakthroughs such as the world’s fastest electric motor in mass production (23,000rpm), as featured in the recently launched SEALION 7, and cutting-edge Super Hybrid DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligent) vehicles that bring greater efficiency to customers who aren’t quite ready to switch to pure-electric models.
Beyond its passenger-car business, BYD continues to implement a unique strategy that covers not only energy use through transportation, but also clean energy capture and energy storage. Its progress, technologies and products are now shaping the global car industry in a way that would have seemed impossible just 30 years ago, when BYD was founded as a manufacturer of batteries in Shenzhen, China.
In reaction to the award, Stella Li said: “I am incredibly honored to receive this prestigious award. This award is the result of the 110,000 R&D engineers at BYD, who continue to provide us with the latest technological advances that are reflected in our electric vehicles and Super Hybrid DM-i technology. I am glad to play my part in putting these sustainable technologies in the hands of as many consumers as possible around the world.”
Jens Meiners, Chair Emeritus of the World Car Awards, said: “Stella Li has impressed the World Car judging panel with her exceptional work as a key figure in BYD’s continued global growth. Her vision and drive has seen BYD become a major player on the automotive stage in a short space of time, and her influence is not only felt within BYD, but across the automotive industry as a whole. We’re delighted to announce Stella as the World Car Person of the Year 2025.”
The World Car Person of the Year is part of The Road to the World Car Awards, a journey that takes jurors through an extensive period of test driving and voting. Now it its 21st year, the World Car Awards culminate in a ceremony at the New York International Auto Show in April. As well as Stella Li’s award, specific BYD products are also being recognised in 2025; the Seagull/Dolphin Mini has been shortlisted for the World Urban Car of the Year category.
