Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

Electric vehicle giant BYD Rêver has officially announced its sponsorship of the Thailand national football team and all levels of the Thai League, marking a bold new chapter for both Thai football and the promotion of clean energy in sport.

 

In a high-profile press conference held at CentralWorld, BYD unveiled its campaign, “BYD Charges Thai Football”, positioning itself not just as a corporate partner, but as a driving force behind the development of the sport and its connection to sustainable energy.

 

The event was attended by prominent figures including Yu Bin Ke, General Manager of BYD (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Prathanwong Phornprapha, CEO of Rêver Group; Madam Pang Nualphan Lamsam, President of the Football Association of Thailand; as well as Thai League officials and players from Thai League 1, 2, and 3 who added colour and excitement to the launch.

 

Yu Bin Ke expressed BYD’s commitment to contributing positively to Thailand beyond clean mobility:

 

“This partnership is more than a business decision. It is a pledge to energise Thai football and create meaningful experiences for fans across the nation.”

 

Rêver Group CEO Prathanwong Phornprapha echoed this vision, describing the collaboration as part of the company’s broader mission of promoting sustainability across all aspects of Thai society, not just in environmental terms, but also in social and sporting dimensions.

 

Madam Pang highlighted the significance of BYD’s involvement:

 

“This is a historic moment. BYD is the first brand to sponsor all tiers of Thai League football. Their support will elevate the quality and intensity of the 2025/26 season and help bring Thai football to the next level.”

 

In a unique move, BYD has rebranded the Thai professional leagues with names inspired by its best-selling EV models:

 

• Thai League 1 becomes “BYD SEALION 6 League One” – named after the high-performance AWD electric SUV, reflecting the power and precision of top-tier football.

 

• Thai League 2 is now “BYD SEAL 5 League Two” – symbolising balance and ambition, like BYD’s sporty and efficient electric sedan.

 

• Thai League 3 takes the name “BYD DOLPHIN League Three” – reflecting agility, community spirit, and clean energy, aligning with the grassroots nature of the league.

 

This branding approach aims to link modern EV innovation with the energy and evolution of Thai football.

 

BYD’s sponsorship goes beyond traditional branding. Under the slogan “More than a sponsor, a new energy for every match”, the campaign will include a range of fan engagement and social impact initiatives:

 

• Energising the Crowd: BYD will launch interactive matchday and online activities to boost fan experience and bring excitement to every game.

 

• Empowering Players: Campaigns will promote athlete lifestyles, connect fans with national players, and inspire youth through exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities.

 

• Giving Back to Communities: BYD will also provide sports equipment and scholarships to underprivileged children across Thailand throughout the season.

 

The “BYD Charges Thai Football” campaign is positioned as the beginning of a New Energy, New Era for the sport in Thailand. With BYD’s support spanning national teams, professional clubs and grassroots communities, the partnership promises to elevate the footballing landscape while promoting a cleaner, smarter future.

 

Fans are invited to follow the campaign and upcoming events throughout the season via Facebook on:

 

• BYD Thailand

• Chang Suek – Thailand National Football Team

• Thai League 1 / 2 / 3 Official Pages

 

BYD’s bold step into Thai football marks a fusion of sport, technology and sustainability, powering passion, progress, and a new generation of play.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-07-20

 

 

 

If the reports of the fake sales numbers by BYD dealers who have registered their new cars as sold which has led to massive numbers of zero mile second hand cars are true, this could be seen as a desperate move to increase sales in SE Asia.

The reports i have read could also be western scaremongering though, hard to tell.

Is this the beginning of a long term commitment to Thailand by BYD, or a desperate move to get publicity to sell cars, or part of the necessary kickback system that BYD was required to undertake to remain licensed and tax supported in Thailand. Is not Buriram the 'boss' of Thai football (and MotoGP) - where Bhumjaithai 'rule'?? 

2 hours ago, WHansen said:

If the reports of the fake sales numbers by BYD dealers who have registered their new cars as sold which has led to massive numbers of zero mile second hand cars are true, this could be seen as a desperate move to increase sales in SE Asia.

The reports i have read could also be western scaremongering though, hard to tell.

 

First i've heard of it.

2 hours ago, WHansen said:

If the reports of the fake sales numbers by BYD dealers who have registered their new cars as sold which has led to massive numbers of zero mile second hand cars are true, this could be seen as a desperate move to increase sales in SE Asia.

The reports i have read could also be western scaremongering though, hard to tell.

I agree and it makes you wonder if traditional media is all that bad. Now where left never knowing what the truth is on many things.  Google determines what is delivered to us depending on our media consumption and no consideration if the content is accurate.

In related news, Thai football teams will now require an hour for half time instead of the normal 15 minutes, and will run out of energy with 25 minutes remaining. 😄