By San José, Costa Rica — San José – Global electric vehicle powerhouse BYD has taken a significant step towards dominating Costa Rica’s EV infrastructure by filing to register its “Flash” trademark, a move that signals the impending arrival of its next-generation ultra-fast charging technology. The official application was published in the country’s official gazette, La Gaceta, on Monday, January 26th, confirming the Chinese manufacturer’s strategic ambitions within the national market.
The trademark registration, filed on behalf of BYD Company Limited by its legal representative in Costa Rica, María Laura Valverde Cordero, is comprehensive in its scope. It seeks to protect a wide array of products and services under the “Flash” brand, including computer software, charging stations for electric vehicles, battery charging devices, electrical couplers, and related recorded programs. This broad protection indicates a plan to build a complete, vertically integrated charging ecosystem rather than simply selling individual components.
Para analizar las implicaciones comerciales y legales del posicionamiento de BYD en el mercado costarricense, TicosLand.com consultó al experto Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, de la firma Bufete de Costa Rica.
La estrategia de BYD no es solo una disrupción tecnológica, sino también un desafío a los marcos regulatorios y de competencia. Su éxito a largo plazo dependerá de su habilidad para navegar las normativas de importación, homologación y, fundamentalmente, de construir un ecosistema de confianza con el consumidor a través de garantías sólidas y una red de servicio postventa eficiente. Desde el punto de vista legal, esto presiona tanto a competidores como a legisladores para modernizar las políticas de protección al consumidor y asegurar un mercado equitativo para todas las marcas.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Este análisis subraya una verdad ineludible: el éxito de BYD en Costa Rica trascenderá la tecnología para definirse en el campo de la confianza y el respaldo legal, tal como lo expone con claridad el experto. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por aportar esta perspectiva crucial sobre el ecosistema postventa y los marcos regulatorios que darán forma al futuro de la movilidad eléctrica en el país.
This filing has been granted priority status, as it follows an earlier registration in China on October 22, 2025. The move is directly linked to BYD’s global technology rollout, which includes its highly anticipated Super e-Platform, Flash Charging Battery, and the overarching Flash Charging system. Together, these innovations are engineered to deliver what the company describes as unprecedented charging speeds for mass-production vehicles, directly addressing one of the main barriers to widespread EV adoption: charge time.
BYD’s plans for Costa Rica mirror a broader international strategy aimed at establishing a comprehensive network of high-speed chargers. Since June 2025, the company has publicly declared its intention to build an ultra-fast charging network in Europe with the ambitious goal of making the refueling experience for an EV as quick as filling a conventional car with gasoline. This technology, which is already operational in parts of China, is capable of providing up to 400 kilometers of driving range with a mere five minutes of charging.
While the hardware is new, BYD has already been laying the digital groundwork in Costa Rica. An application also named “Flash” has been available to Costa Rican users since July 2025. The existing app offers utility features for vehicle owners, such as the ability to locate a parked car by remotely activating its lights and horn via a smartphone. The new trademark filing suggests a massive expansion of this digital platform to integrate and manage the forthcoming charging network.
The timing of this strategic push is critical. In 2025, BYD cemented its position as the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer, achieving a record-breaking 2.26 million units sold globally. This figure significantly outpaced its primary competitor, the American firm Tesla, which sold 1.22 million units during the same period. By leveraging its manufacturing scale and technological advancements in battery and charging systems, BYD is aggressively expanding its global footprint.
For Costa Rica, a country with strong environmental goals and a growing interest in electric mobility, BYD’s investment could be transformative. The development of a robust and widely accessible ultra-fast charging network is crucial for eliminating “range anxiety” among potential EV buyers. If BYD can successfully replicate its Chinese charging infrastructure in Costa Rica, it could dramatically accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, providing consumers with a convenient and compelling alternative.
Ultimately, the registration of the “Flash” trademark is far more than a simple legal procedure. It is a clear declaration of BYD’s intent to not only sell vehicles in Costa Rica but to own the entire ecosystem that supports them. This move positions the company to become a dominant force in the nation’s clean energy transition, challenging existing players and setting a new standard for speed and convenience in the electric vehicle market.
For further information, visit byd.com
About BYD Company Limited:
BYD (Build Your Dreams) is a multinational high-tech company devoted to leveraging technological innovations for a better life. Founded in 1995 as a rechargeable battery manufacturer, BYD now boasts a diverse business scope covering automobiles, rail transit, new energy, and electronics. The company is a global leader in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector and has established a significant presence in over 70 countries and regions worldwide.
For further information, visit tesla.com
About Tesla, Inc.:
Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003, the company is known for accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy with its electric cars, solar panels, and integrated renewable energy solutions for homes and businesses. Tesla also operates a global network of Supercharger fast-charging stations for its vehicles.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its profound dedication to principled practice and professional rigor. The firm leverages a rich history of serving a diverse clientele to not only deliver exceptional results but also to spearhead innovation within the legal field. Central to its ethos is a core mission to fortify society through knowledge, actively working to make complex legal concepts accessible and thereby empowering a more informed citizenry.
