JKH diversifies into electric vehicles space in partnership with Chinese giant BYD

BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division General Manager Liu Xueliang and JKH Chairperson Krishan Balendra 

•  Collaboration aims to offer a range of advanced, eco-friendly passenger vehicles in Sri Lanka
•  In August this year, BYD became world’s first automaker to roll off its 5 millionth NEV from the production line

BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles, has announced its collaboration with Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate John Keells Holdings (JKH), to provide cutting edge new energy vehicles (NEV) to the Sri Lankan market.

The signing ceremony took place at BYD’s global headquarters in Shenzhen on Tuesday, attended by BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division General Manager Liu Xueliang and JKH Chairperson Krishan Balendra. Speaking at the ceremony, Liu Xueliang expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are delighted to have our Sri Lanka partner JKH to our global headquarters. In the past 28 years, BYD has been unwavering in its commitment to technological innovations and its green dream. We’re striving to align diverse lifestyles with eco-conscious mobility choices globally. 

JKH...

This collaboration enables us to offer a range of advanced, eco-friendly passenger vehicles in Sri Lanka, furthering our mission to integrate eco-conscious with diverse lifestyles and making ‘electric vehicle’ the ‘essential vehicle’ in people’s daily lives.”

Echoing the sentiment and emphasising their commitment to sustainability, John Keells Group Chairperson Krishan Balendra said: “ESG is firmly entrenched in our business process, workplace culture and community outreach. With our commitment to achieving a sustainable future for the country, we look forward to the exciting opportunities the partnership with BYD holds. Through this partnership, we will bring advanced NEV models to Sri Lanka, letting our people experience the world’s leading technologies of NEV and contribute to an eco-friendly and sustainable Sri Lanka.”

After decades of perseverance in innovation and technology, BYD has achieved remarkable expertise in core technologies of the entire industrial chain of new energy vehicles, including batteries, electric motors and electronic controllers. BYD also stands out as the sole producer of NEVs globally that has independently developed its powertrain systems, power batteries, drive motors and motor controller systems. 

Currently, BYD’s new energy vehicles span six continents, over 70 countries and regions and more than 400 cities. In 2022 alone, BYD sold more than 1.86 million new energy vehicles globally. Notably, on 9 August 2023, BYD became the world’s first automaker to roll off its five millionth NEV from the production line.