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BYD workforce hits 1.02 million, exceeding Toyota, GM, Ford and Tesla combined

By Eve

BYD now employs more than 1.02 million people, including up to 120,000 R&D engineers, chairman Wang Chuanfu told the China Society of Automotive Engineers' 33rd annual conference on Wednesday. The Chinese automaker added roughly 150,000 staff in 10 months despite falling vehicle sales, bringing its total above the combined headcount of Toyota, GM, Ford and Tesla. Around 960,000 work in China and 60,000 abroad, with R&D focused on battery cells, motors, electronic controls and semiconductors.

Why it matters

BYD's vertical integration strategy, keeping batteries, chips and motors in house, underpins its scale and signals intensifying competition for EV supply chain talent and manufacturing capacity. The workforce expansion, even as sales dip, suggests the company is investing heavily in R&D and production infrastructure that could reshape global EV and charging component markets.

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Original title
“BYD now has 1.02 million workers, more than Toyota, GM, Ford, and Tesla combined”
Published
29 October 2026
Updated
30 October 2026
Also covered by
donanimhaber.com

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BYD · Toyota · GM · Ford · Tesla

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