Speakers

Stella Li is the Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited and CEO of BYD Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, BYD boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rolling stock, new energy, and electronics. BYD is committed to building a green transportation system that utilizes electric vehicles to relieve air pollution and Sky Shuttle and Sky Rail to address traffic congestion - leveraging technological innovations for a better life.

Ms. Li joined BYD in 1996 and served as BYD’s Senior Vice President and the Executive Director and CEO of BYD Electronics. During that time, Ms. Li promoted the enterprise’s global business and international presence, including the establishment of BYD’s Hong Kong Office in 1997, BYD European headquarters in Rotterdam in 1999, and first North America headquarters in Chicago in 2000. In 2002, she helped establish a partnership with both Motorola and Nokia, providing the latter with mobile phone batteries and a wide range of components and parts. Ms. Li has cemented extensive partnerships for BYD across the globe and multiple industries and contributed to the company’s growth as it has become a dominant force and one of the world's leading brands. Her efforts helped transform the company from its beginnings as a battery manufacturer into the innovative and vibrant multinational powerhouse that BYD is today. 

In the Americas, Ms. Li has guided a thriving expansion of BYD. In February 2010, she was appointed as President of BYD Americas and in 2011, relocated its headquarters to Los Angeles. She oversaw the successful openings of BYD’s electric buses, trucks, and energy module factories in Lancaster, California in 2013. Under her guidance, BYD has expanded its presence to over 20 countries in the Americas and has offices in 11 countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia. BYD products launched in American markets include a full range of EVs from pure electric buses and heavy duty trucks to forklifts and energy products.

Given her success in the Americas, in 2025, Ms. Li was appointed CEO of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She has overseen the launch and start of production in factory of Brazil and BYD's new European headquarters and factory in Budapest, Hungary. Under Ms. Li’s vibrant leadership, BYD's passenger vehicles are now entering 80+ countries and have helped drive BYD’s growth to become the fourth largest OEM in the world.

Ms. Li earned her B.A. in Statistics from Fudan University - one of the top 5 universities in China.

Personal Honors and Media Coverage
• 2025 World Car Person of the Year
• 2025 Financial Times The Influence List
• 2025 Xataka Legend Award
• 2025 Reuters Automotive D.R.I.V.E. Visionary Leader
• 2024 Forbes "Asia's Power Businesswomen”
• 2023 Times 100 Most Influential Climate Business Leaders
• 2022 Asian Society of Southern California "Asian Woman Empowered Visionary"
• 2022 Fortune China "Most Powerful Women"
• 2021 Fortune China "Most Powerful Women"
• 2021 Forbes China “2021 Forbes China 60 Outstanding Chinese in North America”
• 2021 Forbes China “Women In Tech”
• On September 19, 2019, Forbes China feature report “Under the leadership of this female executive, this Chinese company becomes a 'model' employer in the US”.
• In May 2018, Ms. Stella Li won the Project Sunshine “Business Leader” Award.
• On March 12, 2018, Ms. Stella Li was awarded the honorary certificate of “Women of the Year” in recognition of her outstanding contributions to California and the United States at the legislative ceremony in Sacramento, the capital of California.
• In November 2017, Ms. Stella Li was rewarded US-China Business Leadership Award by the US-China Policy Foundation.
• On September 28, 2015, Ms. Stella Li attended the United Nations “Every Woman, Every Child” Global Strategy Conference as the only representative of a Chinese enterprise that was invited to speak.