BYD Auto Co., Ltd. is a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, and a wholly owned subsidiary of BYD Company. It was founded in January 2003, following BYD Company’s acquisition of Tsinchuan Automobile Company in 2002. Its principal activity is the design, development, manufacture and distribution of automobiles, buses, electric bicycles, forklifts, rechargeable batteries and trucks sold under the BYD brand.