BYD, one of the largest new energy vehicle manufacturers in the world, recently named Academy Award-winning actor and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Leonardo DiCaprio as the new brand ambassador for BYD’s line of new energy vehicles.
“Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio has greatly inspired the world with his outstanding dedication to saving the planet’s ecological environment. As our brand ambassador in China, we are pleased to work with him in promoting public awareness on climate change through the use of new energy vehicles,” said BYD brand and public relations general manager Sherry Li.
BYD’s commitment to new energy vehicles is part of their “Cool the Earth by 1°C” campaign which seeks the creation of a “Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem.” The campaign includes renewable energy generation, storage, and usage for the purpose of promoting public awareness on climate change and transforming how individuals use energy. In 2015 alone, BYD accounted for 11 percent of the global market in new energy vehicles.
Unbeknownst to some, in 1998, DiCaprio established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF), an environmental organization dedicated to the long-term health and well-being of all of Earth’s inhabitants. Through collaborative partnerships, LDF supports innovative projects that build climate resiliency, protect vulnerable wildlife from extinction and restore balance to threatened ecosystems and communities. Since its creation, LDF has awarded over $61 Million to 128 different projects in 46 countries and all five oceans. In recognition of his notable efforts, DiCaprio was awarded the title of “Messenger of Peace” by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2014.
“All over the world, people are realizing that cars that run on fossil fuels are inefficient and a major threat to the planet. I am very pleased to be joining an effort to increase the number of clean vehicles on the road in China and beyond,” said DiCaprio.
Through the partnership, DiCaprio will work closely with BYD throughout 2017 to highlight new developments and announcements regarding the company’s line of new energy vehicles.
In addition to being a global leader in new energy passenger cars, BYD’s electric bus and other new energy vehicles are in operation in 240 cities, across 50 countries and six continents. In the first half of 2016, BYD saw a 130-percent increase in new energy vehicle sales, allowing the company to strengthen its hold on the Chinese plug-in vehicle market, claiming a 65 percent share.
In the Philippines, BYD vehicles are distributed by Solar Transport & Automotive Resources Corp. (STAR Corp.). Aside from conventional passenger cars such as the S7, S6, L3, F5, F0 and F3, the company also offers electric cars such as the Qin sedan HV and the e6 crossover EV. The Qin (pronounced “Chin”) is a dual-mode hybrid sport sedan that’s part of the “Green Mobility” strategic vision of BYD Global, while the e6 is a pure electric vehicle (EV) with a range of over 300km, which is among the longest distances for pure electric vehicles in the world.
For more details about BYD in the Philippines, visit http://www.byd.com.ph.