Stella Li of BYD Honored as World Car Person of the Year by WCOTY: A Game-Changer in the Automotive Industry

Stella Li, the Executive Vice President of BYD, has made history by receiving the 2025 World Car Person of the Year award. She’s the first woman ever to win this honor, marking a significant moment for the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) program. Additionally, this is the first time an official WCOTY award has been claimed by a Chinese car brand.

Li has played a crucial role in BYD’s growth, especially in 2024. Under her leadership, BYD launched new models and entered various international markets, particularly in Europe. This expansion has positioned BYD as one of China’s top automotive exporters.

Expressing her gratitude, Li said, “I am incredibly honored to receive this prestigious award. It reflects the hard work of our 110,000 R&D engineers at BYD, who drive our technological advancements in electric vehicles and our Super Hybrid DM-i technology. I’m proud to help bring sustainable solutions to consumers worldwide.”

BYD has produced over a million New Energy vehicles, competing closely with other major Chinese brands like Geely Group, Chery, Chang’an, and Great Wall. The WCOTY Chair Emerits, Jens Meiners, praised Li’s vision and efforts in making BYD a global automotive player in such a short time, emphasizing her influence in the broader industry.

Li was selected from a shortlist of three candidates, which included Ralph Gilles from Stellantis and Simon Humphries from Toyota, and was voted on by 96 jurors from 30 different countries.

Previous recipients of this award have included notable figures like Adrian Newey, SangYup Lee, and Akio Toyoda. Li’s victory not only reflects her leadership but also underscores BYD’s rising prominence in the automotive world.