Netcar Commentary  A convoy departed from Xi'an, passing through Bozhou, Jingdezhen, Hangzhou, Wuyishan, Quanzhou, and Chaozhou along the way, finally arriving in Shenzhen. Fragrant herbs, porcelain, silk, and tea were written into the route map, and seven flash charging stations, two racetracks, and models from five networks and four brands were also interspersed.

When I first saw this map, my gaze first fell on the road after Shenzhen.

Shenzhen is where BYD started, it is BYD's global headquarters, and also the endpoint of this domestic journey. The convoy will continue to go overseas from here.

In recent years, Chinese car companies have been used to using roll-on/roll-off ships, overseas sales, and new factories to tell the story of going global, and BYD also has enough numbers. But when the convoy runs past highways, cities, mountain roads, and coastal roads, telling the story of China's smart manufacturing setting sail on the new Silk Road overseas, I gradually feel that how the technology in the car works, and how charging follows, might be closer to the daily life of globalization than a departure at the port.

Over twenty years in the automotive field, BYD's impression on the outside world has changed several times. Early on, people remembered its batteries, later people remembered DM-i and Blade Batteries, and in recent years, Yangwang, Fangchengbao, DiPilot, DiSus, Yi Sifang, and Flash Charge have been added.

After the number of terms increased, I also worried they would each talk their own language, until seeing different brands driving along the same route, I realized BYD is organizing the technology accumulated over these years into things that users can feel.

Nineteen Years Ago, BYD Was Already Studying Fast Charging

From 2007 to 2008, BYD participated in research and development projects such as pure electric vehicles and their fast charging systems. In December 2008, F3DM was launched in Shenzhen. This car could charge using a common 220V power source, also supported fast charging at professional charging stations. The announced charging speed at the time was a 50% charge in 10 minutes.

In that era when private new energy vehicle consumption in China was just starting, charging facilities were very scarce. Users had not yet formed the cognition of charging cars, nor had they formed the habit of charging cars.

When F3DM launched, Wang Chuanfu reminded owners on stage not to forget to charge mobile phones before going to sleep, and not to forget to charge the car either. This action which sounds quite ordinary today, even required a car company to teach users back then.

By the end of 2010, F3DM cumulative sales were only 365 units. This number is far from BYD today, but looking back from the current perspective, at that time BYD had already considered batteries, cars, and charging facilities together before the market matured, forming a sharp contrast with the blind follow-the-market car-making of many car companies today.

Eighteen years ago, F3DM already had fast charging capability, but charging facilities were far from mature. This time, the BYD convoy went south along Xi'an Lintong, Bozhou Yingquan, Hefei, Shengzhou, Wuyishan, and coastal highway. Flash charging stations are already distributed in highway service areas and urban business circles, and the number of stations is still increasing.

With the support of the second-generation Blade Battery, BYD's Flash Charge models have shortened charging time to minutes. On highways, city stops, and mountain roads, users can continue on the road with just a brief stop. The charging experience is very close to refueling a fuel vehicle.

When the convoy arrived in Shenzhen, my understanding of BYD's charging system also changed.

In the past, I often regarded batteries as its trump card for making cars. Looking at it again today, BYD has been preparing for charging for many years. And now, the most direct feeling for users is the dozens of minutes saved on the road.

Early research did not immediately bring market. BYD did not stop investment because of this. After F3DM, this thing was continued for nearly twenty years. BYD's credibility when talking about charging technology today also comes from this verifiable long-term investment.

Five Networks, Four Brands Walk on the Same Road

Around 2019, BYD began to adjust automobile sales channels. Since then, Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang gradually formed their own product sequences.

But in the process of BYD extending from the mass home market to luxury, ultra-luxury, off-road, and high-performance markets, external doubts have always existed.

Some say, for a brand good at mass manufacturing, entering higher-priced, more refined markets, the lessons to be made up are far more than power and configuration.

The convoy drove from Xi'an to Shenzhen. Cities, highways, mountain roads, and racetracks appeared in sequence. Dynasty and Ocean bear daily and family travel, Denza takes care of long-distance seating and luxury experience, Fangchengbao enters mountain roads and unpaved roads, Yangwang shows four-motor and body control capabilities at the racetrack.

Although there are differences in price and usage among brands and models, every car shares BYD's accumulated new energy vehicle technology and whole vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

On this road from north to south, the convoy passed urban areas, and ran on highways and mountain roads. Enabling DiPilot has become a common action during driving.

After running hundreds of kilometers, the driver can feel the heaviness and lightness of acceleration/deceleration during car following, a judgment once entering/exiting ramps, whether the takeover prompt comes a bit early or late.

A few years ago, when talking about BYD externally, the first thoughts were still batteries and hybrids. High-level assisted driving was rarely ranked at the front. This impression needs to change. Every car following, lane changing, and takeover must give people confidence.

In the past many years, BYD brought heavy-weight technologies to mass production products one after another, and made products in scale. After the formation of Five Networks Four Brands, they showed another capability. That is relying on common R&D and manufacturing foundations to enter multiple market segments and serve users with different needs.

This change is more important than adding a few brand names or models. It means BYD is growing from an automotive enterprise known for technology into an automotive group with clear brand hierarchy and wide market coverage.

From a Three-Person Office in Rotterdam to Rayong Factory

At the end of 1998, Li Ke brought an engineer and a translator to Rotterdam, Netherlands. Wang Chuanfu gave them startup resources: one shipping container of batteries and $30,000, and said, if you can reach break-even, continue. If you lose it all, stop.

Then the three people made calls to find customers during the day, wrapped battery packs together at night, and drove forklifts to deliver goods the next day.

On New Year's Day 1999, BYD's first overseas branch opened for business. At that time, the protagonist of overseas business was still batteries hidden in mobile phones.

More than twenty years later, BYD's own roll-on/roll-off ships began to shuttle between global ports, and Thailand's Rayong factory has already covered stamping, welding, painting, assembly, and parts production.

In July 2024, BYD's 8 millionth new energy vehicle rolled off this factory. Annual capacity about 150,000 units. Compared to shipping a car from Shenzhen, building a factory locally requires handling employees, supply, regulations, services, and consumption habits. Investment is heavier, and more is left behind.

In 2025, BYD's overseas sales exceeded 1 million units for the first time. Entering 2026, the overseas market is still growing rapidly, business has already covered 121 countries and regions.

From walking from the small office in Rotterdam to today, BYD's overseas operation has changed products, scale, and methods. The early approach of being close to customers and entering local markets has not lost its effectiveness.

After the convoy arrives in Shenzhen, it will continue to drive overseas. This reminds me of the three people in Rotterdam back then.

For a Chinese brand going global, the starting point can be a shipping container of batteries, or it can be a ship of new energy vehicles. But finally it must be implemented in the lives of local users.

After sales volume reached one million units, the overseas market BYD faces has become much more complex than before.

More than twenty years ago, BYD needed to make overseas customers know a battery enterprise from China. Today, what it needs to build is global consumer recognition of a Chinese automobile enterprise.

Written at the End

Thousands of years ago, camel caravans and merchant ships followed the Silk Road, transporting fragrant herbs, porcelain, silk, and tea to farther places. The world thereby recognized China's products.

Today, a convoy composed of different brand models of BYD drove from Xi'an to Shenzhen, then went to South Asia. This journey spanning mountains and rivers looked back at the traffic on the ancient Silk Road, and also let technology and vehicles undergo testing on real roads.

Electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products are called China's Export "New Three Items". They represent another change in China's exports. The three fields involved in "New Three Items", BYD has been laid out for many years.

With whole vehicles accelerating into overseas markets, BYD's technology application, charging facilities, and long-term services will also quickly follow.

From single commodity output to technology, manufacturing, and service capabilities entering overseas markets together. BYD is participating in global traffic and energy transformation with green technology, creating a new business card of China's smart manufacturing belonging to this era.

August 18, 2026, BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd (abbreviated as "BYD Malaysia") and Malaysian bus manufacturer Bus Cap Berhad (abbreviated as "Bus Cap") signed an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Shenzhen. The two parties will focus on local assembly and manufacturing of electric buses as the primary cooperation priority, jointly promoting strategic cooperation on new energy commercial vehicles in Southeast Asia with Malaysia as the base.

Bus Cap is a listed bus manufacturer in Malaysia. Its core subsidiary, SHL Coach, has been rooted in Perak since 1968 and possesses a mature local manufacturing foundation and market understanding. According to the MOU, the two parties plan to carry out cooperation around areas such as product localization, sales models, and after-sales services, and explore establishing electric bus local assembly and manufacturing facilities in Perak. BYD will leverage its leading new energy technologies, comprehensive solutions, and global marketing promotion experience, combined with Bus Cap's local industrial foundation, to lay a solid foundation for the overall development of electric buses in Malaysia.

BYD Group Vice President and General Manager of the 15th Division & Commercial Vehicle Division Luo Zhongliang stated: "This MOU is an important step for BYD Malaysia in evaluating local electric commercial vehicle opportunities. Based on this cooperation, BYD will combine localization needs to promote the R&D and production of various new energy buses, further explore various new energy commercial vehicle solutions, and continue to expand the Southeast Asian market with Malaysia as a fulcrum."

Huang Zongyang, Executive Director of Bus Cap, stated: "This MOU is an important step in Bus Cap's development journey after listing, and will establish a competitive foundation for electric bus assembly, manufacturing, and deployment in Malaysia."

This cooperation aligns with the Malaysia National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the direction of public transport electrification. The two parties will take this as a starting point to deepen cooperation in the field of new energy commercial vehicles and jointly explore broader Southeast Asian market opportunities.

18 Ogos 2026, BYD Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (dikenali sebagai "BYD Malaysia") dan pengeluar bas Malaysia Bus Cap Berhad (dikenali sebagai "Bus Cap") di Shenzhen menandatangani Memorandum Persefahaman Eksklusif (MOU), kedua-dua pihak akan memfokuskan kepada penganjakan dan pembuatan tempatan bas elektrik sebagai prioritas kerjasama awal, bersama-sama memacu kerjasama strategik kenderaan perniagaan tenaga baharu di Asia Tenggara dengan pangkalan di Malaysia.

Bus Cap ialah pengeluar bas tersenarai di Malaysia. Anak syarikat utamanya, SHL Coach, telah berpangkalan di Negeri Perak sejak 1968 dan mempunyai asas pembuatan tempatan serta pemahaman pasaran yang mapan. Mengikut MOU, kedua-dua pihak merancang untuk mengadakan kerjasama dalam bidang tempatanisasi produk, model jualan, dan perkhidmatan selepas jualan, serta meneroka kemungkinan mewujudkan fasiliti penganjakan dan pembuatan bas elektrik tempatan di Negeri Perak. BYD akan menggabungkan teknologi tenaga baharu yang terkemuka, penyelesaian komprehensif, dan pengalaman pemasaran global dengan asas perindustrian tempatan Bus Cap, untuk meletakkan asas yang kukuh bagi pembangunan keseluruhan bas elektrik di Malaysia.

Luo Zhongliang, Timbalan Presiden Kumpulan BYD dan Pengurus Besar Bahagian ke-15&Bahagian Kenderaan Perniagaan berkata: "MOU kali ini merupakan langkah penting bagi BYD Malaysia dalam menilai peluang kenderaan perniagaan elektrik tempatan. Atas asas kerjasama ini, BYD akan menggabungkan keperluan tempatanisasi, memacu penyelidikan dan pengeluaran pelbagai jenis bas tenaga baharu, meneroka lebih banyak penyelesaian kenderaan perniagaan tenaga baharu, dan menggunakan Malaysia sebagai asas untuk terus mengembangkan pasaran Asia Tenggara."

Wong Kong Yong, Ahli Lembaga Eksekutif Bus Cap berkata: "MOU ini merupakan langkah penting dalam perkembangan sejarah Bus Cap selepas tersenarai, dan akan membina asas yang kompetitif untuk pemasangan, pembuatan serta pelaksanaan bas elektrik di Malaysia."

Kerjasama ini selaras dengan Peta Jalan Transisi Tenaga Negara (NETR) Malaysia dan arah pembangunan elektrifikasi pengangkutan awam. Kedua-dua pihak akan menjadikan ini sebagai titik permulaan untuk memperdalam kerjasama dalam bidang kenderaan perniagaan tenaga baharu, dan bersama-sama meneroka peluang pasaran Asia Tenggara yang lebih meluas.

From Xi'an Datang West City to Quanzhou Ancient Port, from the thousand-year-old camel bell trail to the ten-thousand-ton roll-on/roll-off giant ship — in the midsummer of 2026, a fleet consisting of BYD's full range of new energy vehicles traveled east and south along the veins of the ancient Silk Road, finally sailing out to sea from Shenzhen Port. This journey has a grand name: "2026 Silk Road 10,000-Li Journey · Enlightened Path".

Silk Road Intersection: From Product Cards to Smart Manufacturing Cards

The ancient Silk Road consists of two channels: overland and maritime. The overland Silk Road starts from Xi'an, goes west over mountains and ridges, and reaches Rome directly. The maritime Silk Road starts from Quanzhou, sets sail for the Nanyang region, and reaches Rome. Today, the BYD fleet retraces this thousand-year-old path, while collecting civilization marks at the four intangible cultural heritage nodes, more importantly, unfolding the hard-core strength of flash charging technology and intelligent driving on the 10,000-li test journey.

Currently, BYD's overseas sales have exceeded one million vehicles, with year-on-year growth exceeding 140%, and products cover over 120 countries and regions worldwide.

Road to Overseas Expansion: From Product Export to System Export

Currently, BYD already owns 8 custom RORO ships, with an annual capacity reaching 250,000 to 300,000 vehicles, effectively supporting its overseas market expansion strategy. More importantly, BYD has upgraded "overseas expansion" from single product output to systematic output of "technology + infrastructure + industry". Landing the first flash charging station in Europe, building an exclusive energy replenishment network in Uzbekistan, and laying out localized production bases in Thailand and Brazil. This "systematic overseas expansion" model makes China's new energy technology no longer isolated "commodities", but rather "solutions" integrated into local energy structures and industrial upgrades.

Flash Charging Field Test: 5-minute Energy Replenishment Rewrites Mobility Rules

In this journey spanning thousands of kilometers, flash charging technology became the most focused topic. The BYD flash charging system equipped with the 2nd generation Blade Battery, charging from 10% to 70% battery level takes only 5 minutes at normal temperature, and charging to 97% takes less than 9 minutes; even in extreme cold environments at minus 30 degrees Celsius, charging duration is only 3 minutes longer than normal temperature.

As of the end of June 2026, BYD has cumulatively built 7,018 flash charging stations nationwide, covering 325 cities. From North to Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang, West to Kashgar, Xinjiang, South to Sanya, Hainan, truly realizing the mobility vision of "Travel China with Flash Charging".

10,000-Li Intelligent Driving: Verifying Domestic Hard Power

Aside from flash charging technology, BYD's "Heavenly Eye" high-level intelligent driving assistance system is also a core verification item of this Silk Road 10,000-Li Journey. The fleet fully activated all-scenario NOA intelligent driving functions throughout the journey under complex road conditions such as cross-city highway sections from Quanzhou to Chaozhou to Shenzhen, urban commuting sections in Chaozhou Ancient City and Quanzhou urban area, and coastal highways with strong winds. This Silk Road 10,000-Li Journey fleet gathered the five product matrices of BYD Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fang Cheng Bao, and Yangwang, covering full price range and full scenario vehicle usage needs from 100,000-level home use to million-level flagship.

Conclusion

When the aromatic medicines, porcelain, silk, and tea of the ancient Silk Road meet with the "New Three Items" of export represented by batteries, new energy vehicles, and photovoltaic energy storage, what we witness is not only China's era leap from commodity output to integrated export of technology, complete vehicles, and energy replenishment systems, but also a brand new Chinese name card where China's smart manufacturing reshapes the global sustainable development new order with green technology as the link.

Dari Pasaran Barat Datang Xi'an ke Pelabuhan Kuno Quanzhou, dari Jalan Kuno Loncung Unta Seribu Tahun ke Kapal Pengangkut Ribu Tan — Musim Panas 2026, satu konvoi kenderaan tenaga baharu BYD sepenuhnya, mengikut jejak Laluan Sutera Kuno bergerak ke arah Timur dan Selatan, akhirnya menuju Pelabuhan Shenzhen dan berlayar ke luar negara. Perjalanan ini mempunyai nama yang megah: 'Perjalanan Laluan Sutera 2026 10,000 Mil·Jalan Pemikiran'.

Persilangan Laluan Sutera: Dari Kepingan Produk ke Kepingan Pembuatan Cerdas

Laluan Sutera Kuno terbahagi kepada dua laluan: darat dan laut, laluan darat bermula dari Xi'an menuju ke barat membelah gunung dan lembah sehingga ke Roma, laluan laut pula bermula dari Quanzhou berlayar ke arah Selatan Lautan mencapai Roma. Hari ini, konvoi BYD berjalan kembali di jalan kuno beribu tahun ini, semasa mengumpul tanda-tanda tamadun di empat nodus warisan tidak ketara, malah menampilkan kekuatan teknologi cas pantas dan pemanduan pintar sepanjang perjalanan ujian sebenar seribu batu di atas.

Pada masa ini, jualan luar negara BYD telah melepasi satu juta kenderaan, meningkat pada tahun semasa melebihi 140%, produk merangkumi lebih daripada 120 negara dan wilayah di seluruh dunia.

Laluan Ekspor: Dari Ekspor Produk ke Ekspor Sistem

Pada masa ini, BYD telah mempunyai 8 kapal roll-on/roll-off khas, kapasiti pengangkutan tahunan mencapai 250,000 hingga 300,000 kenderaan, akan menyokong dengan berkesan strateginya untuk meluaskan pasaran luar negara. Yang lebih penting, BYD telah menaikkan status 'ekspor' dari pengeluaran produk tunggal kepada pengeluaran sistem 'teknologi + infrastruktur + industri'. Di Eropah memasang stesen cas pantas pertama, di Uzbekistan membina rangkaian pengisian tenaga khas, di Thailand dan Brazil merancang tapak pengeluaran tempatan. Mod 'ekspor sistem' ini, membuatkan teknologi tenaga baharu China bukan lagi 'produk' yang terpencil, tetapi menjadi 'penyelesaian' yang menyepadukan struktur tenaga tempatan dan peningkatan industri.

Ujian Cas Pantas: Pengisian Tenaga 5 Minit Mengubah Peraturan Perjalanan

Dalam perjalanan merentasi beribu kilometer ini, teknologi cas pantas menjadi fokus utama. Sistem cas pantas BYD yang dilengkapi bateri pisau generasi kedua, pada suhu bilik cas bateri dari 10% ke 70% hanya mengambil masa 5 minit, cas hingga 97% hanya mengambil masa kurang daripada 9 minit; bahkan dalam persekitaran sangat sejuk pada 30 darjah di bawah sifar, masa cas hanyalah 3 minit lebih daripada suhu bilik.

Setakat hujung Jun 2026, BYD telah membina kumulatif 7,018 stesen cas pantas di seluruh negara, merangkumi 325 bandar, utara hingga Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang; barat hingga Kashgar, Xinjiang; selatan hingga Sanya, Hainan, benar-benar merealisasikan wawasan perjalanan 'Menyusuri China Mengikut Cas Pantas'.

Pemanduan Pintar 10,000 Mil: Menguji Kehebatan Lokal

Selain teknologi cas pantas, sistem bantuan pemanduan pintar tinggi tingkat 'Mata Dewa' BYD juga merupakan subjek ujian teras Perjalanan Laluan Sutera 10,000 Mil kali ini. Konvoi pada bahagian lebuh raya merentas bandar dari Quanzhou ke Chaozhou ke Shenzhen, bahagian bandar berdaftar dari Chaozhou dan Quanzhou, di bawah keadaan jalan kompleks seperti lebuh raya bersempadan pantai berangin, sepanjang perjalanan, fungsi pemanduan pintar NOA semua skenario dihidupkan. Konvoi Perjalanan Laluan Sutera 10,000 Mil kali ini menghimpunkan lima matriks produk BYD: Dinasti, Laut, Denza, Fangcheng, Yangwang, merangkumi keperluan kenderaan untuk semua harga dari 100,000 peruntuk rumah tangga hingga 1,000,000 ke tahap flagship, untuk semua skenario.

Penutup

Apabila rupa, seramik, sutera, dan teh Laluan Sutera Kuno bertemu dengan 'Tiga Baharu Baru' Ekspor yang diwakili oleh bateri, kenderaan tenaga baharu, dan tenaga fotovoltan penyimpanan, kita bukan sahaja menyaksikan lompatan zaman China dari pengeluaran produk kepada pengeluaran bersepadu teknologi, kereta lengkap, dan sistem pengisian tenaga, malah merupakan kad perniagaan baru China di mana pembuatan pintar China menggunakan teknologi hijau sebagai penghubung, membentuk semula tatanan pembangunan lestari global yang baru.