Berkshire Hathaway Exits BYD: 17-Year Bet, 3,890% Return

Berkshire Hathaway has sold its remaining BYD shares, ending a 17‑year bet that gained 3,890%.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway first backed BYD in 2008, acting on the conviction of his close friend and late vice‑chairman Charlie Munger. Berkshire invested about $230 million, purchasing 225 million shares at HK$8 (roughly $1.03) apiece. 

Munger later praised BYD and chief executive Wang Chuanfu as “miracle workers,” underscoring the depth of his belief in the company’s engineering and execution.

Phased sell‑down since 2022

Berkshire started trimming its position in August 2022, nudging its stake from 20.04% to 19.92%. At the time, BYD urged observers not to over-interpret the move. The disposals continued, and by 2024 Berkshire’s holding had slipped below 5%, removing its obligation to disclose further changes. 

Reports suggest that now, Berkshire liquidated its remaining shares, taking its stake to zero and closing a 17‑year chapter that delivered a 3,890% share‑price rise.

BYD’s Measured Response

Responding to the exit, BYD brand general manager Li Yunfei said on Weibo that buying and selling are routine parts of equity investing. He thanked Munger and Buffett for recognising BYD and for their long‑term support.

Growth cools amid Fierce Competition

BYD is navigating an intense price war and heightened competition in China. Over the past year, it launched or refreshed three upmarket marques: Denza, Fang Cheng Bao, and Yangwang, to push its portfolio higher. 

Even so, momentum has eased in recent months. July sales reached 341,030 passenger vehicles globally, up just 0.1% year‑on‑year, while August rose 0.2% to 371,501, its slowest annual growth since January 2021, according to China EV DataTracker. 

In contrast, overall passenger EV (BEV + PHEV) sales climbed 12.4% year‑on‑year in July to 987,000 and 7.2% in August to 1,101,000 units. Sources indicate BYD has internally revised its 2025 sales goal from 5.5 million to 4.6 million. 

Also read: Stellantis Unveils New EV Battery That Cuts Charging Time Significantly