BYD runs India from afar as tensions with China shut out execs

China’s BYD Co. is forging ahead with its attempts to expand in India despite roadblocks from the government that are preventing the electric vehicle maker from conducting key business dealings there.

- Bloomberg

Like most Chinese companies, BYD has been unable to obtain visas for executives after a deadly clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers along a disputed Himalayan border in 2020 sparked a major deterioration in political ties. That's seen the EV giant resort to holding board meetings and high-level business interactions in Colombo in Sri Lanka and Kathmandu in Nepal, and even as far away as Singapore, according to people familiar with the matter.

Ketsu Zhang, BYD's managing director for India, has been unable to obtain a work permit since he left the EV maker's local base in Chennai, despite government efforts to facilitate his travel, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they're not authorized to speak publicly.