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Stella Li

Also known as 李柯, Li Ke

Stella Li runs BYD's operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and TIME's 2026 TIME100 AI list names her among the Innovators. She holds a statistics degree from Fudan University and joined BYD in 1996 as a marketing manager for global exports. Her work from the late 1990s includes the establishment of BYD's Hong Kong office in 1997 and its European headquarters in Rotterdam in 1999. In 2010 she was appointed president of BYD Americas, and in 2011 she moved its headquarters to Los Angeles. Automotive journalists voted her 2025 World Car Person of the Year, and she is the first woman to receive it.

Now at
BYD Company Limited
Photo of Stella Li

Timeline

  1. 1996

    Marketing manager at BYD

    She holds a statistics degree from Fudan University. In 1996 she joins BYD as a marketing manager for global exports.

  2. 1997–1999

    Opening BYD's overseas offices

    She promotes BYD's global business, including the establishment of its Hong Kong office in 1997 and its European headquarters in Rotterdam in 1999.

  3. 2010–2011

    Leading BYD Americas

    In February 2010 she is appointed president of BYD Americas, and in 2011 she moves its headquarters to Los Angeles.

  4. May 2024–August 2025

    Running BYD's European business

    In May 2024 she replaces Michael Shu to lead BYD's European operations. By August 2025 her titles include executive vice president and CEO of BYD Americas and Europe.

  5. January 2025

    World Car Person of the Year

    Automotive journalists vote her 2025 World Car Person of the Year. She is the first woman to receive the award.

  6. 2026

    Named to TIME100 AI 2026

    TIME names her to its TIME100 AI 2026 list in the Innovators category.

  7. As of October 2026

    Executive vice president at BYD

    She is executive vice president of BYD Company Limited and CEO of BYD Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Sources and credits

Photo: Alexander Migl, via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: commons.wikimedia.org. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.

  1. Stella Li | China Institute of America chinainstitute.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Stella Li - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Stella Li - London Tech Week 2027 londontechweek.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Stella Li drives BYD's global expansion | Fortune fortune.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. BYD’s Stella Li Voted World Car Person of the Year byd.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Stella Li (BYD) tra i 100 più influenti nell’IA per TIME motorionline.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. Stella Li entra na lista TIME100 AI 2026 entre as 100 pessoas mais influentes em inteligência artificial jornalgrandebahia.com.br. Checked 14 October 2026.