July 22 – Inter Milan have announced a new three-year partnership with Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD, naming the brand as the club’s official automobile partner.
The deal – the value for which remains undisclosed – strengthens BYD’s growing presence in European football and marks a significant commercial move for Inter, even after the end of its Chinese ownership in May 2024.
Already an official sponsor of UEFA EURO 2024 and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025, BYD continues to accelerate its strategy of football-led expansion across the continent.
For Inter, the agreement arrives during a period of transition at the boardroom level. After years under Chinese ownership through Suning Holdings Group, the club passed into the hands of American firm Oaktree Capital last Spring, following Suning’s failure to repay a ‘significant’ loan. The BYD partnership, however, suggests that Inter’s long-standing ties to China, particularly in the commercial sphere, continue to bear fruit.
The deal will see BYD integrated across Inter’s marketing, matchday, and mobility platforms, in an effort to reinforce the club’s brand appeal in Asia and support BYD’s ambitions to penetrate the European market.
While financial terms remain under wraps, the agreement underscores the mutual appeal: Inter gain a tech-forward automotive partner with global reach, while BYD aligns with a top-tier club.
“We’re thrilled to partner with FC Internazionale Milano,” declared Stella Li, BYD Executive Vice President.
“Inter has a large fan base around the world, making them a fitting partner for the brands of our group, BYD and DENZA. Our organisations are inspired by passion and driven by a spirit of innovation as well as a commitment to investing in the talent of the future. I’m convinced that we’ll explore exciting possibilities to shape this shared vision in the coming seasons.”
Giorgio Ricci, FC Internazionale Milano Chief Revenue Officer, said: “We’re extremely pleased to announce this partnership, which unites two global brands who share a constant drive towards the future and the pursuit of excellence.
“We’re proud that BYD has chosen Inter as the first football club with which to form a partnership. It’s a testament to the growing appeal of our brand on a global scale, both geographically and in terms of the industry with which it is associating.
“This partnership not only represents an important growth opportunity for both institutions but also opens up new perspectives for international events and content, which are capable of involving and engaging fans and consumers all over the world. “Together we want to develop innovative projects that further contribute to BYD’s positioning as a reference brand in the global panorama of sustainable mobility.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1753209235labto1753209235ofdlr1753209235owedi1753209235sni@g1753209235niwe.1753209235yrrah1753209235