BYD has announced its first-ever sponsorship of a major ice hockey club, partnering with Jokerit Helsinki in a deal signaling the company’s intent to build a lasting presence in Finland, where the sport commands a massive following across the wider Nordic region.
Based at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, Jokerit has a substantial history since its founding in 1967, having won Finland’s top ice hockey league six times and claimed three European championship titles.
The partnership with BYD runs from 2026 to 2028, timed to coincide with the club’s return to the top-tier SM-liiga when the new season begins in September.
The agreement covers branding across Veikkaus Arena, including Jumbotron advertising and placements on the ice itself, BYD’s logo on game jerseys, and a BYD vehicle displayed inside the arena. Fans can also expect interactions, car showcases, and a BYD-sponsored Player of the Month feature.
Executives on the Partnership
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said the company is genuinely excited to become Jokerit Helsinki’s official partner, calling Finland an important market as BYD works to deepen its roots and build meaningful connections with local consumers and communities.
She said sport carries real pride and passion, and given ice hockey’s huge following in Finland, aligning with such a prestigious name in the sport felt like a natural fit — adding that BYD looks forward to contributing to the Jokerit Helsinki story as the team brings fans together.
Mikko Saarni, Chairman of the Board of Jokerit Helsinki, said the club aims to renew Finnish ice hockey through fresh, multidimensional approaches and wants to be a reliable, responsible partner for its stakeholders. He called it genuinely significant to have a global company of BYD’s scale join the club’s network, saying both organizations share a strong ambition to evolve and drive growth.
BYD’s Broader Track Record
BYD started as a battery manufacturer just over 30 years ago before producing its first New Energy Vehicle — the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid — in 2008. Since then, it has become the global leader in new-energy vehicles, posting record sales of both EVs and Super Hybrid PHEVs and maintaining a presence in more than 110 countries and regions. The company marked production of its 16 millionth NEV as recently as April 2026.
In 2025, BYD sold 4.6 million vehicles worldwide, more than a million of them outside China. Headquartered in Shenzhen, the company employs 120,000 research and development engineers, filing an average of 52 new patent applications every working day.