Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Exits BYD Investment After 17 Years

Islamabad – Warren Buffett’s investment giant, Berkshire Hathaway, has completely divested from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD, ending a 17-year-long investment that generated billions in profits.

The company first bought into BYD in 2008, acquiring around 225 million shares for \$230 million at an average price of HK\$8 per share, representing a 10% stake. Over the years, Berkshire Hathaway steadily reduced its holdings, starting in August 2022 when it sold 1.33 million shares at an average of HK\$277 (\$35.7) each.

By March 2025, Berkshire’s Hong Kong-listed subsidiary reported its BYD stake as zero, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), later reported by CNN.

In response, BYD thanked Berkshire Hathaway for its 17 years of partnership and investment. Despite Buffett’s exit, the company has continued to grow, even surpassing Tesla in global EV sales last year, driven by a wide range of affordable models.

Currently, BYD’s market capitalization stands at over HK\$1 trillion in Hong Kong and ¥975 billion (\$137 billion) in Shenzhen. Its chairman and CEO, Wang Chuanfu, is ranked as China’s 11th richest individual, with a net worth of \$24.4 billion.

However, BYD faces mounting challenges. Analysts expect the automaker may miss its 2025 sales target of 5.5 million EVs amid fierce competition and criticism of Chinese government policies to cut prices, which are adding pressure on the economy.

Berkshire Hathaway’s decision marks the end of one of its most profitable Asian investments, though questions remain on whether the move was driven by market strategy or political pressure, particularly amid growing U.S.-China tensions.