International law firm Bird & Bird’s Corporate team in China has been honored with the prestigious “Deals of the Year 2024” award by China Business Law Journal.
The team was recognised for their exceptional support in the global strategic cooperation between FinDreams Battery, a subsidiary of BYD, and BorgWarner, a leading global automotive supplier. Under the 8-year agreement, BorgWarner is set to become the exclusive partner of FinDreams Battery (FDB) to utilise its innovative lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) blade cell technology to approach OEM customers outside of China for battery packs in commercial vehicles across Europe, the Americas, and selected Asia Pacific regions. The deal further allows BorgWarner to leverage FDB’s cutting-edge technology and secure a license for their intellectual property in battery pack design and manufacturing processes.
BYD, renowned for its innovative blade battery technology and dual-mode hybrid technology, leads the Chinese new energy vehicle market. FinDreams Battery, deeply rooted in the new energy industry, has excelled in battery development for nearly three decades, offering a wide range of products including power batteries, energy storage, and consumer batteries. BorgWarner, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, serves prominent clients like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
This new recognition, following previous accolades, confirms the team’s leading expertise in corporate and strategic global expansion in the automotive sector.
Led by partner Sarah Zeng and supported by colleagues from our Beijing, Shanghai, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt offices, the team navigated numerous challenges to secure a series of critical agreements, including product supply and equipment procurement agreements. Our German IP team provided forward-looking legal advice on technology licensing, laying a solid foundation for this strategic cooperation.
