BYD VIN Decoder & VIN Check — Models, Recalls, Specs, MPG & Safety
“Build Your Dreams”
BYD Company Ltd. (Build Your Dreams) is a Chinese multinational manufacturer of automobiles, batteries, electronics and rail transit equipment, headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. Founded by chemist and engineer Wang Chuanfu in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, BYD entered the automobile market in 2003 by acquiring the bankrupt Tsinchuan Automobile Company. Berkshire Hathaway acquired 10% of BYD in 2008 (since reduced).
BYD became the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer by sales in 2022, surpassing Tesla, with over 3.6 million vehicles sold globally in 2024. The company manufactures both pure battery-electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles using its in-house Blade Battery (lithium iron phosphate) and DM-i (Dual Mode Intelligent) hybrid technology. The Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Qin, Dolphin, Atto 3, Seal and Sealion models cover sedans, SUVs and crossovers across multiple price points.
BYD trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1211) and Shenzhen Stock Exchange (002594), with ADRs as BYDDY. BYD does not currently sell passenger vehicles in the United States but does sell commercial buses through BYD Motors Inc. Recall data for BYD vehicles sold in the US (commercial only) is reported to NHTSA. ForCar.org has limited BYD coverage given the brand's current US market structure.
BYD at a glance
- Founded
- 1995 (battery firm)
- Auto entry
- 2003 (Tsinchuan acquisition)
- Founder
- Wang Chuanfu
- Headquarters
- Shenzhen, China
- Stock ticker
- OTC: BYDDY / HK: 1211
- World #1 EV maker
- Yes (since 2022)
- 2024 sales
- 3.6M+ vehicles globally
- Berkshire Hathaway stake
- Acquired 10% in 2008
- Basic warranty
- 6 years / 150,000 km
- Battery warranty
- 8 years / unlimited km (Blade)
Decode any BYD VIN
Enter a 17-character VIN below to retrieve the trim, factory options, original window-sticker MSRP and any open NHTSA recall affecting that specific vehicle. ForCar.org pulls the same dataset that BYD dealers use to notify owners of safety recalls.
VIN Decoder
Signature BYD technology
BYD heritage
Wang Chuanfu founded BYD as a battery research firm in 1995 with 20 employees. By 2002 BYD was the world's largest manufacturer of nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal-hydride batteries. The 2003 acquisition of Tsinchuan Automobile launched BYD into automaking; the 2005 BYD F3 was the first BYD-branded passenger car. The 2008 Berkshire Hathaway investment and the 2008 launch of the F3DM (the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid) established BYD's global EV credibility. BYD overtook Tesla in global EV sales in Q4 2023.
Market position
BYD competes globally as the world's largest EV manufacturer, primarily in China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. The Yangwang sub-brand (founded 2023) targets the ultra-luxury electric segment with the U8 SUV and U9 supercar at price points of $130,000-$180,000+. BYD does not sell passenger vehicles in the US due to political tariffs and trade restrictions, although BYD Motors Inc. sells commercial battery-electric buses to US transit agencies.
New-vehicle warranty
BYD VIN Decoder — Free VIN Check Video Guide
Watch our quick BYD VIN decoder walkthrough. Learn how to decode any BYD VIN number to get full vehicle history, recall alerts, specifications, fuel economy (MPG), safety ratings, and known problems — completely free on ForCar.org.
All BYD models (32)
Frequently asked questions
When was BYD founded and by whom?
BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.
Where is the VIN on a BYD vehicle?
The 17-character VIN appears in four standard locations: dashboard at the windshield base (driver side), driver-side door jamb sticker, the engine bay (firewall or engine block stamping), and the vehicle's title, registration and insurance documents.
How many BYD models can ForCar.org decode?
ForCar.org indexes 32 BYD nameplates. Any 17-character BYD VIN is decoded against the NHTSA dataset to return trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
What is the BYD warranty?
Basic: 6 years / 150,000 km (China standard). Powertrain: 8 years / unlimited km (Blade Battery).
How to check BYD recalls by VIN?
Enter your VIN in the decoder above. ForCar.org queries NHTSA's open-recall dataset for that specific VIN and returns any safety recalls or Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that affect your vehicle.
Disambiguation: This page covers BYD Company (Build Your Dreams), the Chinese automaker — not the BYD electronic component division or BYD Motors Inc. (the US bus subsidiary, sold separately).
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