On Friday 2nd May 2025, Automotive Art hosted a special reception to celebrate the launch of BYD Barbados, and the opening of their new BYD Showroom in Canewood, St Michael. Held in an atmosphere of celebration and innovation, the event welcomed esteemed guests, including representatives from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and technological progress.

Chief Executive Officer of Automotive Art, Doug Armstrong, spoke at the event, introducing BYD to the specially invited guests:

"When ranked in terms of market share, technological innovation, battery technology, overall sales, and the future growth potential, BYD squarely holds the number one global position."

‍"Furthermore, BYD is renowned for its in-house developed blade battery, a lithium-ion phosphate battery celebrated for its enhanced safety, longer life cycle and optimised strength."

Coco Lin, BYD's Regional Sales Manager, delivered inspiring remarks on the brand’s global vision and commitment to clean energy, and thanked the Barbados market:

"Because we are a new brand in the market, without your trust, without your support, we cannot continue this journey in Barbados. So thank you for choosing BYD, and for becoming our first customers".

At the event, the Seal Sports Sedan, Sealion 7 Performance Sports Utility Vehicle, and Yuan Plus were unveiled – three of the six vehicles offered by BYD Barbados.

The successful event marked a significant milestone in the advancement of sustainable mobility in Barbados. Armstrong commended the Barbados Government for the two-year excise tax and VAT holiday on electric vehicles and is hopeful that the scheme will be extended once again next year. He noted that this incentivisation contributes to Barbados' sustainability targets and the launch of BYD vehicles to the local market further contributes to the national target of transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030:

"While some of you may not know that BYD stands for 'Build Your Dreams', this fact speaks volumes as we seek to build our dreams as a nation in realising our national environmental ambitions".

Derek Foster, Founder & Executive Chairman of Automotive Art, said:

"This addition to our portfolio reflects our ongoing dedication to providing diverse and technologically advanced automotive solutions to the Barbadian market. We look forward to welcoming you to explore the BYD range."

About BYD

Founded in 1995, BYD is a leading technology company devoted to leveraging innovations for a better life. With more than 28 years of expertise, BYD has established itself as an industry leader in electronics, automotives, renewable energy, and rail transit. As a global leader with more than 30 industrial parks across six continents, BYD's zero-emission solutions, focused on energy generation and storage, are expansive and widely applicable.

BYD became a key player in the transition from gas powered vehicles to electric vehicles by developing the cutting-edge Blade Battery and dual-mode hybrid power technology.

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