Manufacturing Magazine September 2024 | Page 32

household names like Tesla . BYD is now the world ’ s best-selling EV manufacturer , all achieved within a decade .
In Q4 of 2023 , BYD sold a record 526,000 battery-only EVs , topping Tesla ’ s 484,000 .
For BYD ’ s CEO , it all started in one of China ’ s poorest provinces . Orphaned as a teen , he was raised by his older siblings . His bright and critical , engineering-driven mind shone through and the high achiever made it to college , despite the odds stacked against him .
Wang Chuanfu is a graduate of Physical Chemistry of Metallurgy , Central South University of Technology with a Master ’ s in Materials from
Beijing General Research Institute of Nonferrous Metals .
His 35-year engineering-driven career has seen him become Vice- Chairman of his Beijing alma mater alongside his roles heading up BYD and its subsidiaries , leveraging his expertise in battery technology .
Transforming multiple markets worldwide An engineer by training , the former professor is also reshaping the battery supply chain .
Speaking in 2008 before BYD ’ s upward surge in popularity and market profile , Wang Chuanfu shared how he hoped
32 September 2024