Breaking News: BYD Has Commenced Mass Production of 3D Printers

In a striking revelation within its 2024 annual report, the leading new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD announced it has successfully entered the mass production phase of 3D printers.

On March 25, 2025, Panda3dp.com observed that BYD, a prominent domestic automaker, disclosed in its 2024 financial report that the company sold 4.27 million vehicles over the year, achieved a revenue of 777.1 billion CNY, and recorded a net profit attributable to shareholders of 40.25 billion CNY. Its investment in research and development reached an impressive 54.2 billion CNY.

In the Chairman’s statement, two key areas of business were highlighted: automotive operations and mobile phone components and assembly. Notably, within the latter category, the report mentions that BYD's 3D printers and AI servers have entered mass production in 2024. This unexpected announcement has sent ripples through the 3D printing industry, as there had been no prior indication of such developments.

For a conglomerate with revenues exceeding 700 billion CNY, venturing into 3D printer development is hardly an insurmountable feat. What intrigues Panda3dp.com, however, is BYD’s strategic intent behind this move.

As of now, BYD has yet to release a 3D printer under its own brand, suggesting the project may be a strategic reserve of technological capabilities. It is possible that a future launch could herald a significant shift within the 3D printing landscape. Whether BYD is developing industrial-grade or desktop 3D printers remains unknown, but Panda3dp.com will continue to monitor developments closely.

BYD’s Multi-Dimensional Strategy in 3D Printing

With the growing prominence of the 3D printing industry, an increasing number of leading companies from other sectors have begun establishing a foothold—Xiaomi and Dreame, for instance, have already been reported as players in this space. Now, BYD joins the ranks of these giants.

BYD has steadily deepened its integration of 3D printing with new energy vehicle manufacturing through a multi-faceted approach encompassing technological R&D, talent recruitment, and production deployment, thereby providing a new model of industrial innovation.

Since 2022, BYD has expanded into additive manufacturing by founding a new battery company that includes 3D printing within its scope of operations. In September 2023, it announced a recruitment drive for "Senior 3D Printing Engineers" to explore applications of the technology in vehicle prototyping, automotive components, and thermal management systems. By 2024, its hiring efforts became even more specialized with the creation of the “3D Printing Advanced Technology R&D Engineer” role, offering monthly salaries ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 CNY. This role covers various printing technologies, including SLM, SLS, and SLA, and emphasizes collaboration with universities and industry partners.

On the manufacturing front, BYD has acquired a substantial number of 3D printers for use in prototyping automotive parts and road testing validation. Additive manufacturing enables the rapid iteration of complex components such as lightweight brackets, battery casings, and thermal system modules, which in turn helps reduce material waste and enhance structural strength.

Advantages of 3D Printing in Automotive Manufacturing

- Accelerated Low-Volume Production: Eliminates the need for traditional mold development, shortening time-to-market for new models.  

- Lightweight Design: Employs topology optimization to create honeycomb structures, reducing component weight and extending battery range.  

- Part Integration: Simplifies assembly by consolidating multiple components into a single printed part, minimizing potential defects and streamlining supply chain management.

Industry Trends and Future Outlook

As competition intensifies in the new energy vehicle market, automakers face mounting pressure to cut costs and accelerate innovation. The flexibility and customizability of 3D printing make it a vital tool for industry leaders like BYD to overcome developmental bottlenecks. According to industry analyses, additive manufacturing’s application in the automotive sector has evolved from prototyping to the production of end-use components. Going forward, it may even permeate the manufacturing of key elements such as batteries and motors.

In his 2024 annual report, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu underscored the company’s commitment to self-reliance in core technologies and to accelerating global expansion. Coupled with continued investment in 3D printing, BYD is poised to drive the transformation of new energy vehicle manufacturing toward greater intelligence and efficiency through technological synergy.

Whether BYD’s 3D printers will eventually be made available to the public remains to be seen. We will continue to follow this story as it unfolds.