As usual we finish our S3 Newsletter with some articles not so closely related to the business world.
This time, after finishing the list of twenty large and yet little-known Chinese cities, we will review them as a summary, because we know it was a long and intense trip!
And how could it be otherwise: we start a new list, this time with the 10 most significant Chinese companies, starting with one that has been in the news a lot lately (‘sinning’ again a bit, because this section should not be excessively related to business…).
Large yet little-known Chinese cities
Over the course of twenty (20!) editions of the S3 Newsletter, we have placed all these highlights on the map: Wuhan (central), Shenyang (northeast), Guiyang (southwest), Shaoxing (east), Chengdu (west), Fuzhou (southeast), Hainan Island (south), Xi’an (northwest), Nanjing (east), Kunming (southwest), Harbin (northeast), Lhasa (southwest), Changsha (south-central), Suzhou (east), Macau (south), Hohhot (northwest), Chongqing (west), Zhengzhou (east-central), Wuxi (east) and Wenzhou (east), leading to the map shown below.
We hope our readers enjoyed this virtual journey through China’s vast territory!
The top 10 most significant Chinese companies
In this edition (and in response to a recent request from one of our readers), we are starting a new list of interest, specifically by answering the question:
What are the 10 most significant Chinese companies today, taking into account their international presence, technological leadership and/or relevance in their respective sectors?
Well, let’s try to give an answer to this question, starting with BYD.
Anyone who follows the automotive industry and has an interest in electric vehicles will undoubtedly have come across the name BYD (which actually stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’).
BYD was founded in 2003 and is based in the Chinese tech metropolis par excellence, Shenzhen, near Hong Kong and part of the Greater Bay Area in the south of the country.
It is a private company, mainly owned by founder Chuang Fu Wang (who holds nearly 60% of the shares), but also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
In 2008, the prominent US investor Warren Buffet took a stake in the company (he bought 9.9% of the shares), although last year he reduced his stake by 60%, partly for geopolitical reasons and to reap (the already extraordinary) profits.
In terms of relevance, BYD is currently the company that sells the most electric vehicles in the world, surpassing Tesla in 2023.
And in January 2024, it made headlines when it was named the e-mobility partner for the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany, replacing Volkswagen.