BYD Currently Has The Most R&D Staff In The World

BYD has experienced remarkable growth in recent year and as of 2024, the company employs nearly one million people, including approximately 110,000 engineers, making it the carmaker with the largest research and development (R&D) workforce worldwide, revealed founder, chairman and CEO Wang Chuanfu at the first China Innovation and Technology Festival hosted by China Central Television, according to a CarNewsChina report.

In contrast to 2011, BYD only had over 20,000 engineers. The workforce grew substantially in 2021, with over 60,000 new employees joining, bringing the total headcount to more than 280,000. By the following year, this number had doubled to around 570,000. The most significant growth has been in production and R&D staff. 

This perhaps explains how BYD is able to apply for a whopping 32 patent applications per working day. By the third quarter of 2024, the company's cumulative R&D investment had surpassed RMB 160 billion (approximately RM 98 billion).

The automaker's recruitment strategy has also been noteworthy, with over 50,000 fresh college graduates hired in the past two to three years. Notably, nearly 70% of these graduates in the current year hold Master's or Doctorate degrees, and approximately 80% are engaged in R&D roles. Wang stated that most of the senior executives and technical leads joined when they were fresh graduates, including passenger vehicle business group chief operating officer He Zhiqi and senior vice president Yang Dongsheng. 



In terms of market performance, BYD sold approximately 3.76 million new energy vehicles between January and November 2024, marking a 40.02% year-on-year increase. The company's total power battery installed capacity in November reached 16.87 GWh, contributing to a cumulative year-to-date total of 117.54 GWh. BYD anticipates closing 2024 with 4.27 million vehicles sold, surpassing its initial target of 3.6 million units. 

BYD is also establishing a manufacturing plant in our neighboring country of Indonesia, expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2025. This facility is predicted to create approximately 8,700 jobs, contributing to the local economy and enhancing BYD's production capabilities in Southeast Asia. 


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