BYD Auto is going to expand in Europe. Chinese producer famous from production of hybrid cars will compete for customers in new, rapidly growing electric car’s segment. The main weapon of Chinese giant will be a "E6" model, the first mass-produced electric, 5-seater van. At present, BYD Corp., the owner of BYD Auto, has two battery’s factories in Europe - in Romania and Hungary.

BYD E6 – what does the first electric Chinese van hide?

After Buffett’s investment - who has bought 10% shares of BYD Auto for $230 million - the company has become more recognized, and its products goad a growing interest in the automotive industry. The company exhibits its products in Detroit and have hope to begin official sales of the brand in the United States in 2011. The place of the official presentation of sales plans in Europe will be Geneva Motor Show. Chinese concern has been searching and sing cooperation agreements with dealers in another countries of Old Continent. The first units of electric vehicles passing road-test in Denmark, which recently hosted in Copenhagen participants of climate conference.

Below the list of countries and dealers who have received the rights to sell BYD Auto’s cars in respective regions:

1. Austria - Denzel,
2. Czech Republic - Autobinck,
3. Denmark - Christiansen Group,
4. Spain - Grupo Berge,
5. Netherlands - Autobinck,
6. Poland - Pol-Mot?,
7. Portugal - Hipogest Group,
8. Slovakia - Autobinck,
9. Slovenia - Autobinck,
10. Hungary – Autobinck.

It hasn’t known so far, who will be responsible for the distribution of cars in major markets like Germany, Italy or France. There is no knowing, what about adapting the model to the right-hand drive in UK.

Regarding Poland, the appetence for BYD E6’ sales announced the owner of Stampa company Stanislaw Pamula in last year, but recently on website www.elektryczne-samochody.pl has disappeared electric van’s offer (there is another, but other brand). According to unconfirmed information, the Pol-Mot holding considers the sales of BYD E6. Polish company has already received the homologation on ZX Auto’s Grandtiger pickup with Hyundai engine and has a plan to import Roewe brand.

Unfortunately, the commercial price of the vehicle has not been determined yet even in China, where the vehicle passes final homologation test. In the case of such technology the price of battery is a “lion part” of whole vehicle price. Perhaps the future distributors of car will decide to use the "Better Place" project which was invented by Shai Agassi. His proposal assumes that the batteries will not be sold, but only leased to the owner, who will pay the cost of leasing during each battery charge. This innovate idea is going to be implement in companies Renault and Nissan.

Currently the most extensive network of electric distributors in Europe has Denmark, which is considered as the best place to sell cars with electric drive. By the end of 2011 there will be installed 20,000 charging points powered by the wind farms. One of the global leaders is Israel, which offers very large tax incentives to buyers of electrical cars, systematically increasing the current network of distributors.

BYD Auto has a very ambitious plan of sales. Chinese company wants to launch five new models (L3, I6, G6, S6 and M6) and to double sales from 400 to 800 thousand cars this year. On Tuesday, Chinese electric carmaker BYD announced an ambitious plan at the North American International Auto Show to become China's top automaker by 2015 and the world no.1 by 2025. Development of sales network in Europe and the U.S. is a key element of long-term plans.

Source: Autochiny

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