In fact, Lu Xiangyang, one of the founders of BYD, under his investment company Rongjie Lithium, has ventured into Lithium resource and Battery technology much earlier. Together with Wang Chuanfu, the two of them started BYD in 1995, beginning Electric Vehicles research and development in 2008. However they have grappled with increasing competition and haven't been successful with securing raw material supplies and mastered the application of core technology. Rongjie Lithium holds a stake in one of the largest lithium mine in Asia - the Mika Limestone Project, through its majority owned subsidary Rongda Lithium, who controls the development and operation rights of the project.
BYD having big electric busses that need lots of lithium