LONDON: Arsenal Became the first English Premier League side to join hands with an electric vehicle company as it announced a global sponsorship deal with China’s electric car maker BYD on Wednesday, according to Chinese media company XinhuaNet.
BYD is the London-based outfit’s second Chinese global sponsor after telecommunications giant Huawei, as their 2-year deal expired this month.
According to the contract, BYD will benefit from hospitality opportunities and branding at the Emirates Stadium in North London. Sherry Li, BYD’s General Manager for Global Branding and PR, was quoted saying to XinhuaNet: “It’s a great honor for BYD to start this relationship which is appropriate given our joint commitment to the environment. We look forward to working together in the coming months to raise the profile of our combined sustainable vision and, in BYD’s case, our zero emissions products.”
Vinai Venkatesham, chief commercial officer at Arsenal Football Club, called the partnership “exciting”. “We are proud to become the first Premier League club to enter into a global electric vehicle partnership, and to do so with one of China’s largest and best-known companies. We look forward to working with BYD in the coming seasons,” said Venkatesham.
