Stella Li is the executive vice president of BYD. She has become the first woman to receive the prestigious World Car Person of the Year award. She has achieved this feat for the first time, not only in her career but also for BYD, which is the first Chinese brand to win a World Car Award.
The selection process for the award included some of the most influential figures in the automotive world. Other nominees included Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer at Stellantis, and Simon Humphries, Head of Design and Chief Branding Officer at Toyota. However, Li’s contributions to BYD’s advancements in electric vehicle technology set her apart.She has achieved this feat for the first time, not only in her career but also for BYD, which is the first Chinese brand to win a World Car Award.
Acknowledging BYD’s R&D Team
When Li accepted the award, she attributed it to the 110,000 research and development engineers at BYD. According to her, it is this innovation that continues to drive it in electric vehicles and the Super Hybrid DM-i technology of the company. She wants to ensure sustainable mobility reaches the consumers’ pocket around the globe.
World Car Awards 2025: What’s Next?
While Stella Li bagged this recognition, the vote for the World Car of the Year 2025 and all its categories remains open. Winners will be announced at the New York Motor Show on April 16, celebrating the awards’ 20th anniversary.
Indian Representation on the Jury
Members of the World Car Awards jury also include some notable Indian automotive journalists, such as Dhruv Behl from AutoX, Girish Karkera of car&bike, Renuka Kriplani from Mashable, Hani Musthafa from Flywheel, Siddharth Vinayak Patankar from Acko Drive, Yogendra Pratap from Auto Today, and Hormazd Sorabjee from Autocar.
Stella Li is an example that reflects the rise of women’s influence in the automotive industry. Her leadership for BYD promotes innovation and sustainability as drivers that will define the future of this industry.
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