BYD Shares Slide as Berkshire Hathaway Exits Stake After 17 Years

BYD's Hong Kong-listed shares fell over 3% following revelations that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has liquidated its entire position in the Chinese EV manufacturer. The conglomerate initially invested in 2008, reaping substantial returns on its 225 million-share stake before beginning systematic divestment in August 2022.

"Buying and selling are normal practices," remarked BYD's branding chief Li Yunfei on Weibo, acknowledging Buffett and late partner Charlie Munger's 17-year endorsement. Munger had famously praised CEO Wang Chuanfu as a "damn miracle" during BYD's early growth phase.

Berkshire's June 2024 filings show its stake dipped below the 5% disclosure threshold after months of gradual selling. The exit coincides with BYD's ascendance as a global EV leader, suggesting Buffett may be rotating capital after maximizing gains during the sector's explosive growth period.