The executives were speaking at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in Munich, happening for the first time outside China in a symbol of Chinese EV makers' ambitions for expansion. "We want to invite partners from Germany to join BYD to promote green transport," BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said. "Our German colleagues are using China as a basis for research and development, and they were correct to position their operations this way. That puts pressure on us too," said William Li, CEO of premium EV maker Nio.