Last year, Germany’s Daimler AG and the Chinese BYD Auto have formed a 50-50 joint R&D venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd.” to pursue a new brand that will focus on the development of pure electric vehicles for China.

Now, the two automakers have revealed intentions to introduce a new electric vehicle concept for the upcoming Beijing Auto Show of April next year. The Mercedes-Benz parent company said that the unveiling will demonstrate the concept’s exterior and interior design study, and the brand’s identity, including name, logo, and positioning in the China automotive market.

The Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd. expects to have a prototype up and running for shakedown and testing by the springtime of 2012, and to have it ready for production by 2013.

[Source: CarScoop]

There’s a new kid in Los Angeles, BYD. The Chinese battery and electric car manufacturer opened its California office today.

BYD says it will bring 150 green-collar engineering and management jobs to the city. The event highlight, however, is a deal between BYD and Hertz to provide airport shuttles to the rental agency. This could prove to be a key time for the company to move into the California electric car market.

Their opening is hot on the heels of the California government deciding to limit HOV lane benefits to electric cars in an effort to encourage greener transportation. BYD has a chance to get a jump on the electric car market considering the only EV’s available to consumers are the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster.

Things may not all be bright though, BYD saw their profits drop by just over a third between 2009 and 2010 and lackluster sales in the first half of this year aren’t boding well either.

Their financial woes are largely due to poor car sales in China, where they failed to meet even half of their projected numbers.

Their push into the North American market could prove to be a good source of revenue, but BYD Vice-President Michael Austin admitted earlier this year to the Glendale News-Press that “the paradigm of driving a Chinese car in the U.S. is going to be hard to break.”

[Source: Auto Observer]

It’s not clear if Chinese automaker BYD is more famous because of its billionaire investor Warren Buffet, or because of its continued failed promises to sell cars in North America. Soon, however, you might recognize the brand as your emissions free transportation to and from the office. That’s because BYD is preparing to launch its new eBUS-12, the world’s first fully electric full size bus.

Measuring 12 meters (40 feet) in length, the potentially revolutionary bus will have a range of 250 km in urban driving and will debut at Busworld (sounds exciting, we know), in Kortrijk, Belgium on Friday, October 21st.

BYD will also then announce plans for a European launch strategy with tests of the new bus in several major European capitals. Like with its cars, there’s no word of BYD selling buses in North America.

Warren Buffett and Chinese carmaker BYD have raised 1.4 billion yuan, or $219 million, in their initial public offering in Shenzhen.

While seemingly impressive, the figure was below expectations. Investors were worried over how well the company would perform, and lacked confidence for the company. BYD had hoped to raise 2.19 billion yuan, or another $34 million.

Shares of BYD were priced at 18 yuan, while its Hong Kong shares were priced at $21.50 each. It did sell 79 million shares in its initial outing, however, amidst declining sales: 9% since May.

BYD originated as a battery producer but is now China’s 4th largest automaker, and has been developing its electric car for both mainland and global consumption. Warren Buffett has held a stake in the company since September 2008, and is still happy with the investment.

[Source: Reuters]

BYD, China’s 4th largest automaker, has finally established a location in Southern California, although the digs are modest to say the least. BYD’s new home in America is an office within a used car dealership in Glendale, a Los Angeles suburb.

According to reports, the dealership is being used to train BYD technicians, and BYD will roll out 10 of its own sales outlets starting in late 2011.

BYD has leased a fleet of 10 electric vehicles to a local municipal government agency, and its electric car, the E-6, will be on sale later in the year with a range of 200 miles and a starting price of $32,000. But BYD Vice-President Michael Austin admits that their entry into the U.S. market will be challenging. “The paradigm of driving a Chinese car in the U.S. is going to be hard to break,”he said to the Glendale News-Press.

[Source: Glendale News-Press]

Of all the Chinese automakers, BYD (or Build Your Dreams) has been pegged for several years now as the one to bet on. A battery company turned car manufacturer, BYD was the first from China to display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, holding a press conference and making claims that have yet to come to fruition.

But more important than all this was a major investment by the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett himself. It wasn’t so much the money, pouring $232 million into BYD, as it was the psychological factor with Buffett known for making the right decisions when it comes to money.

If continued delays and broken promises might not be enough to see Buffett back out, new WikiLeaks cables obtained by Reuters might. In the cables Guangzhou Consul-General Brian Goldbeck comments on the possible intellectual property rights infringements carried out by BYD. “While BYD has certainly achieved a measure of success based on a business approach of copying and then modifying car designs just enough to convince Chinese courts that the company has not infringed on patents, it is far less certain that foreign courts will be as sympathetic.”

A report by U.S. government officials on the company was even titled, “BYD seeks to ‘Build Your Dreams’ — based on Someone Else’s Designs.”

Other questionable business practices include partnering with foreign automakers only to steal their part designs, ordering initial shipments of parts only to then cancel, while reverse-engineering and then mass-producing them for wider use in BYD’s own vehicles. And to make matters worse, the new parts are often of shoddy, or even unsafe, quality.

Other leaked cables include info that BYD lied about a five-star safety rating for its F0 car – itself a mirror of the Toyota Aygo.

And in what could be seen as an admission of its copycat designs, other info points to BYD dealers actually selling cars with the logos of other automakers – telling unaware consumers that the car is in fact the real thing.

But perhaps the biggest reason for Buffet to back out lies with BYD’s battery technology which reportedly fails to live up to expectations. One cable quotes an embassy official who, after a visit to BYD headquarters, reported that only 100 F3DM electric vehicles had been sold due mostly to the battery life and performance that, “falls considerably short of expectations.”

In previous reports a Berkshire Hathaway exec told Reuters that the reason for the investment was entirely about BYD’s battery technology and not the ability to build a car.

[Source: Reuters]

BYD, perhaps China’s best known car maker, is an acronym for “Build Your Dreams”, but their current product offerings look like someone else’s dreams shamelessly copied and sold under the Chinese automakers own badging.

BYD’s S6 DM is a blatant rip-off of the Lexus RX crossover, and even has a dual-mode hybrid system similar to the RX400h. However, BYD’s 102 horsepower gas engine and 14 horsepower electric motor are exponentially weaker than the Lexus’ 3.5L V6/electric motor combination. BYD claims that the car can travel about 37 miles on a full electric charge, but really, who knows if this car will even be sold here. We’ll be waiting to see if BYD can make an original design first.

Gallery: BYD S6 DM

BYD, the Chinese automaker backed by American investment magnate Warren Buffet, has delayed plans to bring their B6 electric car to America to better engineer the car for American tastes.

The Wall Street Journal, having spoken to a BYD representative, claims that, “the holdup was caused by BYD’s efforts to make the car roomier, especially its rear-seat area that was cramped thanks to a beefy battery pack that needs to be stored under the seat.”

BYD expects the first 50 B6′s, destined for fleets, to arrive sometime in 2011, with private sales beginning in 2012. With the notoriously unreliable schedule of Chinese automakers, don’t be surprised if we see further delays with the introduction of Chinese-made EVs in the United States.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

China is the world’s biggest auto market in the world, so it might not be so surprising that China is also Hyundai‘s new biggest market, after the automaker sold more cars in China than Korea for the second straight month. Buoyed by the success of the Yuedong (aka our Elantra) and the Tuscon crossover, Hyundai was able to move 57, 014 cars in China in May, versus 55, 339 in Korea.

The Yuedong was able to usurp the title of #1 selling compact car from the Chinese engineered and built BYD F3, a significant coup for the Korean automaker. Hyundai expects to move 670,000 cars in China for the year 2010.

[Source:  Joon Gang Daily]

Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz and BYD, China’s fastest growing car company, established a joint venture to develop electric cars in China. Based in the industrial city of Shenzen, the two companies respective experience with electric cars complements one another. BYD is experienced with battery and drivetrain systems, while Daimler will bring their knowledge of safety and structural design to the table.

With BYD’s push into the American market this year, the partnership is an astute move for both companies, as China becomes an increasingly larger presence in the automarket, while Daimler is able to leverage its premium Mercedes-Benz brand to help propel sales and interest in their vehicles.

Hit The Jump To See The Official Press Release

[Source: World Car Fans]

BYD and Daimler AG to establish “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd,” a 50:50 research and technology center to develop electric cars in China
Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Company Limited: “Together with Daimler we are making excellent progress identifying opportunities to utilize the strengths of both companies to create a new brand of electric cars for China. This is a unique and exciting initiative and together we are pushing hard to bring this new electric vehicle to market as soon as possible.”
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG: “Our new joint venture is well positioned to make the most of the vast potential of electric mobility in China. We are fortunate to have excellent joint venture partners in China and the establishment of this research and technology center with BYD adds another dimension to our growing presence in this important market.”
Beijing — BYD Company Limited and Daimler AG today signed a contract creating a 50:50 research and technology joint venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd,” that will develop an electric vehicle for China.
BYD and Daimler will invest RMB 600 million to use as registered capital for the Joint venture. The new generation of electric vehicles developed by the joint venture will capitalize on Daimler’s know-how in electric vehicle architecture and safety as well as BYD’s excellence in battery technology and e-drive systems. The vehicle will be marketed under a new brand jointly created and owned by Daimler and BYD.
Mr. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Company Limited: “Together with Daimler we are making excellent progress identifying opportunities to utilize the strengths of both companies to create a new brand of electric cars for China. This is a unique and exciting initiative and together we are pushing hard to bring this new electric vehicle to market as soon as possible.”

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG: “Our new joint venture is well positioned to make the most of the vast potential of electric mobility in China. We are fortunate to have excellent joint venture partners in China and the establishment of this research and technology center with BYD adds another dimension to our growing presence in this important market.”

Chairman Wang and Dr. Zetsche signed the joint venture contract today in Beijing. This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on March 1. Engineers, designers and other executives from both companies established working teams after the signing of the MOU to begin working on the vehicle concept. The business license for the new joint venture is subject to relevant government approval.

Daimler is a leader in sustainable mobility and in developing automotive architectures for zero-emissions driving. The company recently launched the smart fortwo electric drive and this year will introduce two Mercedes-Benz electric cars: the B-Class F-CELL with fuel cell technology as well as the battery electric A-Class E-CELL.

BYD is China’s leading manufacturer in developing advanced battery technology, a field it has invested in since 1995. The company has enjoyed rapid growth for five years after entering the automotive sector in 2003. It is the fastest growing Chinese automotive manufacturer. BYD introduced its F3DM dual-mode hybrid electric vehicle to the world in December 2008 and started direct sales to individual customers in March 2010. The company recently launched the e6, a pure electric vehicle and established itself as the first manufacturer in China to commercialize taxi business with its e6.

The Chinese city of Shenzen recieved a fleet of 40 electric taxicabs last week, marking a historic milestone for China and electric vehicles. The taxis, made by Chinese automaker BYD have a top speed of 140 km/h, and are capable of getting 300 miles on a single charge.BYD, backed by American investor Warren Buffet, is planning to launch its cars in the U.S. market in late 2010, becoming one of the first makers of all-electric vehicles.

BYD also expects Shenzen to have 100 electric taxis running by the end of June. With a population of over 1 billion, poor air quality due to coal-fired power plants and rising energy costs, China is the perfect market for electric vehicles, and it would not be unreasonable to see BYD and other Chinese automakers make significant moves towards promoting electric vehicles both at home and abroad.

[Source: Autospies]

In a shockingly forthright appraisal of the Chinese auto market, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche laid out the harsh reality for the Chinese auto market, stating that petroleum-powered vehicles are not sustainable due to the massive demand, and that electric vehicles are imperative.

Speaking at an event in Beijing, Zetsche remarked “If you look at the population and the growth here, you quickly reach the conclusion that it would be unthinkable to provide these people with traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. There just isn’t enough oil for that. So there has to be personal transportation that is not dependent on oil and is CO2-free to the greatest possible extent. In this regard, BYD is clearly a front runner.“

Daimler is conveniently partnered with BYD in an electric vehicle alliance, and Zetsche singled out the taxi market as the most promising sector for any potential EV. With over 1 billion people, China is an obvious candidate for EVs, but how long will it be until the focus of a similar campaign is directed at North America?

[Source: Automotive News]