BYD named official automotive partner of China’s LPL

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has been named the official automotive partner of China’s League of Legends Pro League, replacing Mercedes-Benz ahead of the 2026 season. The LPL announced the partnership on its social media channels.

The league released a translated statement that included an excerpt:

From today onwards, BYD officially becomes the official partner of the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), bringing a new wave of power to the LPL in the new energy era,’ and added the partnership would ‘resonate with youthful attitudes through competitive passion.

Neither BYD nor the LPL disclosed financial terms, the duration of the agreement, or the specific rights included. The announcement did not state whether the partnership will include naming rights for segments, on-site vehicle displays at events, exclusive digital content, or deeper brand integration beyond logo placement on broadcasts. The two parties indicated more details on activation plans will be released later.

Mercedes-Benz first sponsored the LPL in 2018 and became chief partner in 2019. The automaker remained one of the league’s most prominent sponsors for more than eight years. When LPL operator TJ Sports published the sponsor lineup for the 2026 LPL First Season, Mercedes-Benz and smartphone maker OPPO were absent from the seven listed partners: JD.com, Li-Ning, Durex, Skymotor, TCL, Warhorse and AutoFull.

The BYD deal follows other recent partnerships between Chinese automakers and esports properties. Last month OMODA, a brand of Chery Automobile, signed a multi-year agreement with Riot Games to become the official automotive partner of VALORANT Esports EMEA. Global Esports Industry Week will run June 18–21, 2026, in Cologne, Germany, alongside IEM Cologne.

Previously, we reported that Fnatic named GymBeam its official supplement partner.