So, it finally happened. Berkshire Hathaway basically walked away from the table.
After 17 years of holding onto a company that turned a modest $230 million bet into a multi-billion dollar windfall, Warren Buffett’s firm has effectively cleared its plate of BYD stock. For anyone watching the EV space, this isn't just a "portfolio rebalancing" move. It feels like the end of an era.
Honestly, the news that BYD stock warren buffett holdings hit zero as of March 2025 (revealed in later filings) sent a ripple through the Hong Kong and Shenzhen exchanges. If you've been following the drama, you know that Berkshire had been trimming the position since August 2022. But seeing that "zero" on a balance sheet? That hits different.
Why the Oracle of Omaha finally pulled the plug
People love to overcomplicate Buffett. They look for secret geopolitical signals or inside info on battery tech. But if you look at how he and the late Charlie Munger operated, the logic is usually simpler—and way more disciplined.
Munger was the one who practically pounded the table for BYD back in 2008. He famously called founder Wang Chuanfu a "combination of Thomas Edison and Jack Welch." That’s high praise coming from a guy who wasn't exactly known for handing out compliments.
The profit was just too big to ignore
Let's talk numbers because they are staggering. Berkshire bought about 10% of the company for roughly $8 a share. By the time they started selling in earnest, the stock had rocketed. We are talking about a 20-fold to 30-fold return.
When you’ve made that kind of money, you don't wait for the absolute peak. You take your billions and you look for the next thing. Buffett has often said he’d rather be "approximately right than precisely wrong."
The "Uncertainty" Factor
By late 2025 and heading into 2026, the Chinese EV market turned into a total meat grinder. We aren't just talking about competition; we are talking about a full-scale price war.
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BYD is winning the volume game—they actually sold about 2.26 million battery-electric vehicles in 2025, officially dethroning Tesla. But volume isn't profit. In the second quarter of 2025, BYD saw a net profit drop of nearly 30%. For a value investor like Buffett, seeing margins get squeezed while the "uncertainty" of global trade wars looms... well, that’s usually the cue to exit.
Is BYD stock warren buffett-less still a buy?
This is the million-dollar question. Or the billion-yuan one.
Just because Berkshire is out doesn't mean the company is failing. It’s actually the opposite. BYD is arguably more dominant now than it was when Buffett was a major shareholder. They’ve moved from being a "China-first" company to a global monster.
- They are building factories everywhere: Brazil, Thailand, Hungary, and Turkey.
- They aren't just a car company; they are a battery company that happens to make cars.
- Their vertical integration is terrifyingly efficient. They make their own chips and their own seats.
But—and this is a big "but"—the stock is no longer a "hidden gem." Everyone knows BYD now. The valuation reflects that.
The 2026 Reality Check
We are currently seeing a shift where investors are looking for "execution" over "growth." In 2025, BYD hit a record 4.6 million total vehicle sales (including hybrids). That’s insane. Yet, the stock has been choppy.
Why? Because the market is worried about what comes next. China's domestic market is maturing. To keep growing, BYD has to win in Europe and Southeast Asia, where they face tariffs and local protectionism. It’s a much harder fight than the one they won in Shenzhen ten years ago.
What investors are missing about the Munger legacy
Charlie Munger’s passing in late 2023 was a turning point for this specific investment. BYD was "his" baby. He was the emotional and intellectual anchor for that position.
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Without Munger there to advocate for the "damn miracle" that is Wang Chuanfu, it’s likely Buffett felt more comfortable sticking to his core circle of competence—mostly American-centric brands like Apple or Coca-Cola.
It’s also worth noting that Berkshire's cash pile has been growing to record levels. They aren't just selling BYD; they’ve been triming Apple too. It seems like Buffett is more interested in "dry powder" than in riding the volatility of the global EV transition.
Actionable Insights for Your Portfolio
If you're holding BYD or thinking about jumping in, don't just mimic Buffett. His goals are different than yours. He manages hundreds of billions. You probably don't.
- Watch the margins, not just the delivery numbers. If BYD keeps selling more cars but making less money per vehicle, the stock will struggle.
- Keep an eye on the "secondary" businesses. Their energy storage and battery supply divisions are massive. They sell batteries to their rivals (including Tesla). That’s a hedge that most car companies don't have.
- Mind the geopolitics. Tariffs in the EU and North America are the biggest threat to BYD’s "global dominance" narrative. If they can’t successfully localize production in Europe, the growth story hits a ceiling.
The era of BYD stock warren buffett partnership is over, but the company's story is just entering its most aggressive chapter. It’s moving from a high-growth disruptor to a global industrial incumbent. That transition is rarely smooth, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart.
To stay ahead, track the quarterly "per-vehicle profit" metrics. In 2025, this number dropped significantly. If BYD can stabilize this through their premium brands like Yangwang, they might just prove the Oracle of Omaha left the party a bit too early. If not, Buffett’s exit will be remembered as another masterclass in timing.