Guilty Pleasure: Triumph Stag
News
Reviews
Guides
Gas Mileage
Car Types

WSJ Reports BYD to Sell in U.S. Ahead of Schedule

 
8 1,486 views August 22, 2009

byd_f3dm_hybrid_concept_1_gallery_image_largeEnlarge Photo

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Chinese automaker BYD is planning a new-share sale in China to fund the earlier-than-planned launch of their battery electric vehicle here in the States. The shares sale will also help pay for a second production line near Shenzhen, China, to boost production of BYD's automotive-grade lithium-ion batteries. The launch is planned for next year, giving the automaker only a few months to start promoting the vehicle here to not only raise awareness — most Americans haven't heard of BYD — but to build a brand image, make the vehicle desirable in a market where style and image are just as important as fuel economy. And perhaps styling and image is where the BYD may fall short. At the North American International Auto Show earlier this year, BYD's F6 and F6DM (dual-mode) received a luke-warm reception, criticized for being lackluster and dull. There's no wow or cool factor, which will make branding the BYD as anything other than an environmentally-friendly high-tech choice difficult.

Source: wsj.com (login required)
Photo: BYD





Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Comments (8)

  1. By  Eric E Posted: 8/22/2009 7:53am PDT

    I think it's better looking than the LEAF.
    I'd buy one.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. By Chris O Posted: 8/22/2009 10:16am PDT

    So far all BYD has shown is that they are good at hyping the EV's they are supposed to introduce (boosting their shareholders profits enormously in the process), but rumour has it that the "first mass produced PHEV" the F3DM is in fact only produced in very small numbers. At some point they will need to deliver the hype...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. By  Pedro Posted: 8/23/2009 3:13am PDT

    So Dear Lyle...perhaps you'll have to take it back what you said about BYD being years of distance to sell they're electric car abroad...Thanks to Warrent Buffet, the E6 will come as soon as possible and, if EESTOR doesnt prove to be the "real deal", the LEAF and VOLT wont have a chance with E6.The fight as beggan and i wanna stay on the front row to watch it. Thanks also to allcarselectric!!!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. By arturo123 Posted: 8/24/2009 1:14am PDT

    hype!...hype!...like an empty shell, looks solid outside but empty inside...nice try BYD... u know what?... BYD & EESTOR should be partners....
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. By steve Posted: 8/24/2009 5:19am PDT

    Electric cars should of been on market 20-30 years ago
    Oil companys did not want to see it in mass production 100 years ago there were Electric cars
    in production that went 100 miles on one charge.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. By Chris O Posted: 8/24/2009 7:41am PDT

    Turns out BYD only plans to sell a few hundred specimens of the E6 in 2010 without any specifics about any mass introduction after that. Fits the pattern of hyping their EV prowess to boost their stock value, without actually delivering on any significant scale on the hype.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. By Mark Posted: 8/24/2009 4:05pm PDT

    Does BYD have a manufacturing partnership with Toyota? That car looks absolutely identical to a previous generation Corolla--not just the profile, but in every detail except the badge. Would Buffet be partisan to such a blatant rip-off?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. By Noel Park Posted: 8/24/2009 4:15pm PDT

    Not in this life or the next. Come on Volt!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Find Green Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
Green Car Reports
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 Green Car Reports. All Rights Reserved. Green Car Reports is published by High Gear Media. Send us feedback.
 

Use the form below to send us a tip, give us feedback, or just say hello.

(max 750 characters)