Car Inc. signs for 100,000 BYD EVs

BYD and Car Inc. signed a 100,000-vehicle procurement framework in Shenzhen on May 9, according to company-backed reports, giving the Chinese car rental operator one of the largest announced electric-fleet expansion plans in the market this year. The agreement also covers installation of BYD flash-charging facilities at eligible Car Inc. rental stores across China, linking vehicle supply with charging access rather than treating them as separate projects. (cnevpost.com) Car Inc., also known as Shenzhou Zuche, has been expanding its electrified fleet since 2025, and BYD said the new framework deepens an existing relationship rather than starting a new one. (carnewschina.com) Earlier pilot programs included 3,000 BYD Qin Plus DM-i hybrid sedans deployed in April 2025, and BYD said Car Inc. bought nearly 30,000 BYD vehicles last year. The deal matters because it combines three pieces of the EV business at once: vehicle sales, commercial fleet usage and charging infrastructure. BYD said the charging portion supports its broader “Flash Charging China” strategy, which it unveiled in March. (cnevpost.com) ### Why is a rental-car company ordering that many vehicles? Car Inc. is one of China’s largest direct-operated car rental platforms, and BYD said the 100,000-unit framework is meant to expand a “green rental fleet” for short-term mobility demand. The companies did not disclose a delivery timetable, model mix or contract value in the material reviewed. (cnevpost.com) The earlier cooperation gives some scale for comparison. In May 2025, the two companies formed a strategic partnership, and in April 2025 Car Inc. deployed 3,000 Qin Plus DM-i hybrids in pilot use, BYD-backed reporting said. (cnevpost.com) ### What exactly is BYD building alongside the fleet order? BYD said flash-charging equipment will be installed at eligible Car Inc. stores nationwide, tying rental pickup points to its charging rollout. The company has described flash charging as a core part of its push to reduce charging times for drivers using newer BYD battery systems. (cnevpost.com) On March 5, BYD unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery and flash-charging technology in Shenzhen and said vehicles using the system could charge from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. BYD also said its flash charger can deliver up to 1,500 kW from a single gun, and that the national buildout target is 20,000 flash-charging stations by the end of 2026. (cnevpost.com) BYD’s March announcement gave more detail on that network. The company said 18,000 stations are planned under a partner-led “station-within-a-station” model, while 2,000 are planned for highways, with average spacing of just over 100 kilometers. (cnevpost.com) ### Is the 20,000-station target new? March 5 is when BYD publicly set out the 20,000-station goal, not this week. The Car Inc. agreement is one of the first large fleet partnerships explicitly tied to that plan. Wang Chuanfu, BYD’s chairman and president, said at the March event that the company would build 20,000 flash-charging stations across China by year-end. BYD also said at the time that the rollout would later expand overseas by the end of 2026. (cnevpost.com) ### Where does the Atto 3 fit into this story? May 21 is the date cited in local media reports for a refreshed Atto 3 launch in China, but BYD has not officially confirmed that date. (cv.byd.com) The model, sold in China as the Yuan Plus, is reported to adopt the second-generation Blade Battery and support flash charging. Car News China reported the updated crossover could offer up to 630 kilometers of CLTC range, roughly 390 miles, and dealer-related information circulating online pointed to a starting price of about 120,000 yuan. Those figures remain unconfirmed by BYD. (cv.byd.com) May 21 is the next concrete date in the story. BYD has not yet published final retail pricing for the refreshed Atto 3, and the 100,000-vehicle framework with Car Inc. did not disclose delivery milestones or which BYD models will be supplied first. (carnewschina.com)