Inside BYD: Stella Li on Surpassing Tesla, Building Robots and Reinventing Transportation
Inside BYD: Stella Li on Surpassing Tesla, Building Robots and Reinventing Transportation Just 15 years ago, Elon Musk laughed when asked about BYD. Today, BYD has overtaken Tesla in global EV sales and is rapidly becoming one of the world's most influential technology companies. In this exclusive interview, Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and the first woman to be named World Car Person of the Year, discusses the innovations driving the company's rise – and why she believes the next decade will be defined by artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, robotics, battery technology and clean energy. We discuss: • How BYD went from an underestimated battery company to a global technology leader • Who BYD’s real competition is • The future of AI, robotics, and autonomous driving • How five-minute charging could transform electric vehicles • The impact of the Iran conflict on global EV demand and energy security • Why the Middle East is becoming BYD's next innovation hub • Her views on tariffs, geopolitics, and climate change • The future of mobility – and why robots could soon become part of everyday life Interview with Sally Mousa, Senior Presenter, Forbes Middle East.