BYD Restructures EV Research and Development Centre
BYD is reportedly planning to overhaul the structure of its electric vehicle research and development centres by implementing a more decentralised scheme to address the sales slowdown experienced in recent months.
According to Car News China, the Chinese automotive manufacturer plans to split its Automotive Engineering Research Institute, which has served as the central development hub, into five separate research centres based on specific brands.
Under the new structure, the central engineering division will focus solely on developing core technologies, such as the Blade battery, electric vehicle platforms, and electronic architecture. Meanwhile, product development, vehicle design, and chassis customisation will be delegated to each respective brand.
The five brands that will operate their own independent research centres include Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fang Cheng Bao, and Yangwang. A number of engineers from the central engineering division will also be reassigned to the development teams of each brand.
In addition to restructuring the organisational hierarchy, BYD will implement an independent profit and loss reporting system for each brand. Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, and Fang Cheng Bao will be required to meet individual profit targets, whereas the premium brand, Yangwang, will be temporarily exempt from this policy.
Each brand will also be charged internal fees when utilising shared technologies and group assets. This policy is driven by the need to increase cost efficiency while clarifying business responsibilities across each brand line.
The restructuring also aims to reduce product overlap that has occurred across various product segments. With a vehicle portfolio ranging from 100,000 yuan (approximately Rp260 million) to over 1 million yuan (Rp2.6 billion), the use of identical platforms has been seen to trigger internal competition, particularly between the Ocean and Dynasty lines.
This strategic shift comes as BYD seeks to strengthen its penetration into the premium segment through the launch of several new models, including the Great Tang family SUV and the Seal 08 electric sedan.
The move coincides with a decline in BYD’s sales of approximately 20 per cent during the first five months of 2026. During that period, the company recorded sales of approximately 1.405 million vehicle units.