Last year, the two companies formed a 50-50 joint R&D venture called "Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd" or "BDNT" for short, to create a new brand that will focus on the development of pure electric vehicles for China.
Read more »
BYD’s sales in the first six months of 2011 were down 23.4%, to 220,131 units. Deliveries of the core models of its range, such as the F0 city car, the F3 compact and the F6 mid-sized sedan plunged right after the governments incentives for new car buyers stopped at the end of last year.
Read more »
The latest edition included 65 brands and 161 separate models in nine segments and is based on responses from 4,979 potential buyers of new-vehicles located in 53 cities.
Read more »
So far, China’s “Big Four” (well, the four most visible to those outside of China) have made and broken promises of bringing their vehicles to the North American market. Brilliance, Chery, Nanjing and Geely have all backed down from their plans to open dealerships and factories stateside. So far, not a single car from China's major automakers has touched down on U.S. soil outside a motor show.
The gasoline-electric hybrid is based on the Chinese firm's S6, a mid-size SUV model first introduced at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2009. And no, you're not the only one to find the overall styling of the S6 reminiscent of the previous generation Lexus RX.
The two companies said that they are planning to invest a total of 600 million yuan (US$87.9 million) in the 50-50 partnership in China.
According to a statement made by Daimler, the German automaker will bring its "know-how in electric vehicle architecture and safety" to the venture, while BYD will contribute "it's excellence in battery technology and e-drive systems".
Looking a lot like a previous generation Toyota Corolla, the 4,533mm (178.4 inches) long FD3M makes use of a small 1.0-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor for a combined output of 168hp (125kw).
Even though some sites have reported now and in the past that the F3DM's hybrid drivetrain works in the same that the Chevy Volt's does, meaning that the gasoline engine doesn't drive the wheels but charges the battery, BYD Auto's press release clearly points towards a system similar to the one found in the Prius.
"When the vehicle needs more power to accelerate, a gasoline engine and an electric motor drive the wheels together to provide greater output and torque," BYD Auto states in the F3DM's press release.
BYD claims that the plug-in hybrid sedan can drive up to 100km or 62 miles on electricity and 580km or 360 miles on a single battery charge and a full tank of gasoline.
The Chinese maker says that the F3DM's battery pack can be charged to 50% power via quick charge in 10 minutes, and 100% power via household charge in seven hours.
The vehicle also features a solar panel sunroof, which can be used to channel power to the battery pack.
According to BYD, the F3DM can sprint from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 10.5 seconds and go on to reach a top speed of 150 km/h or 93mph.
The plug-in hybrid sedan recently went on sale in China for the U.S. equivalent of around $22,000. The company said that it plans to sell the F3DM in the States by 2011.
The E6 measures 4,554mm (179.3 inches ) long, 1,882mm (71.7 inches) wide and 1,630mm (64.2 inches) tall, and can seat up to five-passengers.
It is powered by an electric motor that produces 75kW or 101HP and 450Nm or 332 lb-ft of torque, and drives the front wheels.
BYD Auto says that the E6's FE battery pack offers a driving range of around 330km or 205 miles and can be recharged via any household outlet.
According to the company, the crossover is capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in less than 14 seconds and has a top speed of 140km/h or 87mph.
BYD Auto e6 Specifications
Length - 4554mm (179.3in )
Width - 1822mm (71.7in )
Height - 1630mm (64.2in )
Wheelbase - 2830mm (111.4in )
Track - 1556mm/1558mm (61in/61in )
Curb weight - 2295kg (5060lbs)
Capacity - 5 seats
Gradeability - ≥30%
Maximum speed - 140km/h (87mph )
0-60mph - Less than 14 seconds
Front motor power/torque - 75kw/450Nm (101hp/332lb-ft)
Rear motor power/torque - N/A
Combined power/torque - N/A
Type - Permanent-magnet type synchronous motor
Power management system - Intelligent central management system
Power outlet - DC380/100A
Range(Cruising mode) - 330km (205 miles )
Actual EV range might vary due to different driving behaviors.
All parameters are for reference only and maybe vary during commercial launch.
The Volkswagen Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's "Build Your Dreams" or as Toyota's people may put it, "Copy Your Dreams", BYD Auto to explore the options for partnership in the area of hybrids and electric vehicles powered by lithium ion batteries. The agreement between the two automakers was signed during an informational visit to VW's German headquarters. BYD Auto's delegation that was led by the company's chairman, Wang Chuanfu, consisted of several top managers. 
"Volkswagen will consistently expand its successful 'BlueMotionTechnologies'. Hybrids and electric vehicles will play an increasingly important role, of course. Particularly for the Chinese market, potential partners such as BYD could support us in quickly expanding our activities," emphasised Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board for Technical Development at Volkswagen.
During their visit that took place first at the Elektrotraktion Technology Centre in Isenbuttel and then at the German automaker's test tracks in Wolfsburg, BYD Auto's delegation had technical discussions with VW's people while they also had the chance to test drive a variety of vehicles such as the Golf twinDrive and the prototype for an electric vehicle.
BYD Auto has made headlines for launching the world's first mass produced plug-in hybrid, the F3DM, but also for cloning the designs of vehicles such as the Toyota Aygo (F0) and the Lexus RX (S6).
In any other case, we'd have a hard time believing it, but when you're talking about Chinese automakers of the likes of BYD Auto that has a history of cloning other vehicles such as the Lexus RX-lookalike "S6 SUV" and the Toyota Aygo-esque "F0 minicar", everything is possible, even the creation of a Porsche Cayenne SUV knockoff. The above image of the Porsche Cayenne featuring a photoshoped BYD Auto grille circulated in numerous Chinese sites, but we managed to pinpoint the original scan on a Chinese forum.We're not entirely sure if the photo is from an official brochure as suggested since there's a possibility that it could be sourced from a car magazine. Either way, while we have no knowledge of the Chinese language, we're presuming that the closing sentences in the article mean that BYD Auto's T6 Cayenne knockoff is planned to be introduced in September 2010 and that it will be equipped with a 2.0-liter engine.
BYD Auto isn't the only Chinese firm that has adopted vehicle cloning as an accepted development strategy. As we saw once again at last month's Shanghai Auto Show, many automakers from China follow this method to create new cars like the Landwind X8 - Mitsubishi Outlander, Great Wall Florid - Scion xA, Lifan 320 - MINI Cooper, Yema SQJ6451 - Subaru Forester and Geely GE - Rolls Royce Phantom.
We'll keep a close eye on the "BYD T6" Cayenne story and if (or when) we find something new, we'll post it up immediately.
Via: Le Blog Auto , Photo: Club BYD Auto
These are the first photos of BYD Auto's newest proposal in the SUV / Crossover segment, the S6 that is bound to make its debut at next month's 2009 Shanghai Auto Show that runs from April 20 to 28. If you haven't noticed it already, the Chinese automaker's SUV looks remarkably similar to the previous generation Lexus RX350. Sure the S6 has a different grille and revised headlamps / tail lights but unless your paycheck is coming from BYD Auto, few will disagree with us when we say that overall, its design shamelessly copies that of the RX350.
But what makes this story even more intriguing and apparently quite frustrating for Toyota / Lexus officials, is that believe it or not, we discovered that BYD Auto has actually succeeded in patenting the S6's design (see photo gallery bellow) at the European trademark office!
We don't have any other information on the S6 other than it is scheduled to go on sale in China later on in the year. However, what we really would like to find out is what Toyota and Lexus have to say about this latest cloning incident from China.
BYD AUTO S6 vs 2007 LEXUS RX350
___________________________________________________
BYD AUTO S6 European Design Patents
____________________________________________________________
BYD S6 pics: Sina
The 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in mid-January will see Brilliance Auto, BMW's Chinese partner, making its first appearance on U.S. soil. The Chinese automaker has already spread its wings to Europe but now its setting its eyes on the North American market as company officials say they want to begin selling cars in the U.S. as early as next year. Brilliance intends to show four vehicles in Detroit, the Pininfarina designed BS6 mid-sized sedan and BS4 compact sedan (pictured above and after the jump) and the BC3 compact coupe and FRV hatchback. In China, Brilliance builds BMW's domestic market 3 Series and 5 Series models.
NAIAS officials also revealed that another Chinese automaker, BYD will make an encore appearance in Detroit after its debut at the 2008 show. BYD has not disclosed any details of the vehicle premieres and models that will be on display at the Cobo Center.
The Chinese automaker made headlines recently when American billionaire investor Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings paid $230 million for a 10-percent stake in the firm to support its green technologies. BYD is currently developing electric-hybrid cars that it plans to sell in China later this year, Europe and Israel by 2010 and eventually in North America.
Just for the record, the number of Chinese auto manufacturers that displayed cars at this year's NAIAS show were five: Changfeng Motor Group, BYD Auto, Geely, China America Cooperative Automotive, Inc./ZXNA (Chamco) and Li Shi Guang Ming Auto Design.
