BYD Patent Portfolio Analysis

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Disclaimer: This report has been updated through 09 October 2025. The information is provided for reference only and does not represent any opinion, recommendation, or endorsement.

BYD Company Limited (Shenzhen, China) is a leading integrated new energy technology conglomerate with core businesses in electric vehicles, battery systems, electronics and energy storage. As of recent disclosures, BYD has applied for over 50,000 patents worldwide, with more than 30,000 granted — driven heavily by innovations in battery safety, charging systems and vehicle electronics.

Key Metrics:

Total Patents: 51,446
Simple Families: 40,341
Extended Families: 41,461
Jurisdictions Covered: 36
Litigated Patents: 5
Challenged Patents: 0

Asset Status:

Active Grants: 24,631
Active Applications: 14,939
Expired due to Term: 4,398
Expired due to Fees: 3,665
Abandoned Applications: 2,806

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Jurisdictional Distribution

China (CN): 41,322
World Intellectual Property Organization (WO): 3,283
United States (US): 1,787
Europe (EP): 1,479
Japan (JP): 819
South Korea (KR): 805
India (IN): 322
Taiwan (TW): 244
Australia (AU): 203
Canada (CA): 155

Technological Distribution:

Computer Systems and Components: 7,856
Automotive: 5,428
Industrial: 3,441
Networking: 1,131
Software: 1,104
Consumer Electronics: 978
Imaging: 558
Consumer Goods: 529
Semiconductor: 353
Healthcare: 82
Retail: 44

Citations:

Top Citing Assignees

BYD Company Limited: 2,871
Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China: 960
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.: 515
Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.: 314
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.: 312
Chery Holding Group Co., Ltd.: 298
GREE Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai: 237
City of Shanghai: 225
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.: 225
BBK Electronics Corp., Inc.: 214

Top Cited Assignees :

BYD Company Limited: 3,403
Toyota Motor Corporation: 1,322
Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China: 1,138
Panasonic Holdings Corporation: 914
Hitachi, Ltd.: 641
DENSO Corporation: 601
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.: 583
Honda Motor Company: 573
Hyundai Motor Group: 501
Biyadi Company Limited: 447

Top Cited Patents

CN202076386U – 231 citations
CN102002722A – 123 citations
CN202067875U – 111 citations
CN202455130U – 85 citations
USD680524S1 – 82 citations
US20040251872A1 – 81 citations
CN105702913A – 74 citations
CN102542843A – 73 citations
CN102752441A – 71 citations
CN114256448A – 66 citations

Top Citing Patents :

US12068492B2 – 359 backward citations
US11955651B2 – 354 backward citations
US12230820B2 – 241 backward citations
US9874266B2 – 220 backward citations
US10670123B2 – 213 backward citations
US9944165B2 – 197 backward citations
US9919699B2 – 197 backward citations
US9802388B2 – 189 backward citations
US9862131B2 – 189 backward citations
US9889588B2 – 188 backward citations

Litigation Activities

BYD’s portfolio includes 5 litigated patents. Litigation activity has been limited and primarily concentrated within Chinese courts, involving both corporate and governmental entities.

Litigation by Year

Litigation activity within BYD’s portfolio has been minimal over the years, with isolated cases occurring intermittently between 2005 and 2019. The first recorded litigation appeared in 2005, followed by a period of inactivity until 2014. Moderate activity was observed between 2014 and 2017, with 2015 and 2017 each seeing two litigated cases. The most recent recorded case occurred in 2019.

Top Plaintiffs

BYD Company Limited – 32 cases
Shanghai Chanlian Electric Technology Company Limited – 4 cases
Shanghai Chuanglian Electric Technology Company Limited – 4 cases
Shanghai Cianlian Electric Technology Company Limited – 4 cases
Shanghai Industrial Alliance Electrical Technology Company Limited – 4 cases

Top Defendants

Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China – 2 cases
National Intellectual Property Office Patent Review Committee – 2 cases
AAC Technology Holdings Limited – 2 cases
Shenzhen Kediyu Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. – 2 cases
Gold Peak Technology Group Ltd. – 1 case

Top Venues

Top Venues

Ownership and Acquisition

By Ownership Type

Originally Assigned Patents: 48,083
Acquired Patents: 3,363

Sources of Acquired Patents

Operating Companies: 2,709
Other Sources: 0

Patenting Activity by Publication/Issue Year

Notable Acquisitions and Mergers

2023 – Exploracao Mineral do Brasil (Lithium Valley, Brazil)
BYD acquired mining rights in Brazil’s Jequitinhonha region to secure upstream lithium supply for battery production, reinforcing IP and process innovation across raw material extraction and battery chemistry.
2024 – Denza (acquired remaining 10% stake from Mercedes-Benz)
BYD assumed full ownership of its Denza joint venture, consolidating EV design, drivetrain and premium platform IP under complete in-house control.
2024 – Hedin Electric Mobility (Germany)
BYD acquired its German distributor Hedin Electric Mobility GmbH to internalize sales, logistics and after-sales data systems, enhancing its IP coverage in connected mobility and dealership software infrastructure.

Business Performance

BYD’s revenue reached approximately ¥777.10 billion in 2024, up from ¥602.32 billion in 2023. The company delivered about 4.27 million vehicles in 2024.

On the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1211.HK), BYD’s share price has remained active, while its U.S. ADR (BYDDY) trades around $16–$18 per share.

C-Suite Executives (2025)

Wang Chuanfu: Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
Zhou Yalin: Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Li Ke (Stella Li): Executive Vice President & President, BYD America
He Zhiqi: Executive Vice President & COO, BYD Passenger Car Division

Headquarters

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Conclusion

BYD holds a total of 51,446 patent assets across 36 jurisdictions, covering technologies in electric vehicles, batteries, and related electronic systems. The portfolio consists mainly of originally assigned patents, with limited litigation and acquisition activity. Patent filings and grants have shown consistent growth over the years, supported by recent corporate expansions and integrations.

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