The City of Los Angeles and BYD announced jointly today that the Chinese automaker will set up its U.S. headquarters in downtown LA. BYD North America will serve as the base for the company's efforts to import and sell electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in the United States.
The first of these will be apparently be this e6 crossover, which BYD has said will sell for about $40,000. Green Car Advisor reported in March that BYD might establish a production plant for the e6 in California. That was not part of today's announcement, but the BYD North American HQ will include a research and development facility specifically for the U.S. market.
Today's press release from the city notes that BYD expects to create 150 jobs in 2010 and 2011 as it prepares to sell its vehicles in the U.S.
BYD started out as a lithium-ion battery manufacturer in 1995 and became a carmaker in 2003. It's probably best known in the U.S. for its connection to billionaire Warren Buffet, whose company, Berkshire Hathaway, took a nearly 10 percent stake in BYD in 2008. BYD recently formed a partnership with Daimler to develop a pilot program for the electric Smart car in China.
throwback says:
01:39 PM, 04/30/10
$40,000 for an unknown Chinese brand car? A strategy rethink is in order.
anhimal says:
02:13 PM, 04/30/10
Let me see, 15 years ago this company was making batteries. It started making cars only 7 years ago. Who would buy a car from a company with only 7 years experience building cars? Especially over established companies with 50 + years experience building cars like Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, GM, etc. And let's not even get started on China's quality and crash test results.
firstwagon says:
04:56 PM, 04/30/10
That's how fast things are changing in China.
They may not have 50 years of experience but they also don't have 50 years of baggage to deal with.
The world is going to change and you don't know who the new big players will be yet.
I'm looking forward to the new world.
anhimal says:
06:08 PM, 04/30/10
Firstwagon, pretend your car go stolen and you got a check for $40,000 and you only had room for 1 car in your garage, would you buy a Chinese car over a Honda or Nissan? Or if you're buying a brand new car for your son or daughter, would you trust their life in a Chinese car?
firstwagon says:
07:59 PM, 04/30/10
If they gave me $40K for my 98 Taurus I would be happy to buy what ever they suggest.
Do Honda or Nissan build an electric crossover that you would compare it to? I can't think of one myself.
As for safety it will have to meet meet the same standards as everyone else. I trust my life in American cars, why not Chinese? Caras are only as safe as the driver anyhow.
jason31480 says:
09:55 PM, 04/30/10
@anhimal says:
02:13 PM, 04/30/10
Let me see, 15 years ago this company was making batteries. It started making cars only 7 years ago. Who would buy a car from a company with only 7 years experience building cars? Especially over established companies with 50 + years experience building cars like Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, GM, etc. And let's not even get started on China's quality and crash test results.
Look at what China was 50 years ago and look at it now. Things change fast, my friend. The greatness of technology is not about the product it created, but is how it helps in discovering something even greater in a relative shorter time. I highly doubt that BYD needs to take same 50 years to get to the equivalent R&D level as GM, Toyota,etc.
anhimal says:
10:42 PM, 04/30/10
@FirstWagon
Sorry FirstWagon, nobody is going to give you 40K for your 98 Taurus. Not your insurance company and neither would BYD. Maybe I should have worded it differently. An insurance payout only pays for what you already put in or pays off what you still owe on a car. It's not free money. Unless you paid cash for your car, crash it the next day. You'll still be getting your own money back.
Anyways, what i'm getting at is that I wouldn't trust my life with a car company that has only been building cars for 7 years. Remember when the 1st Korean cars came over here? Would you have bought them when they first came here? They're great now and I would consider buying one now, but it's taken them many years to get their safety and quality up to par with the rest of the industry.
As far as safety, yes, they will have to meet the same MINIMUM safety standards as all other manufactures. A 1 star safety rating technically passes but would you want to take your chances in that or a 4 or 5 star safety rated car? Passing the minimum safety standard is like graduating with a D average. Yes, you got your diploma, but you're going to get crushed by the A students.
As far as electric crossovers to compare to, the Nissan Leaf is coming out soon and Toyota started leasing out a small test run of plug in Priuses. Yes I know Toyota quality has been taking a beating lately but I'm confident they can get their act together soon rather than later.
alman08 says:
09:11 AM, 05/ 1/10
good news!
dougtheeng says:
10:00 AM, 05/ 3/10
"s far as electric crossovers to compare to, the Nissan Leaf is coming out soon and Toyota started leasing out a small test run of plug in Priuses."
Neither are crossovers, just FYI.
anhimal says:
11:44 AM, 05/ 3/10
You're absolutely right dougtheeng. The Nissan and Toyota models are just sedans. It'll be interesting to see how reliable and successful this 40k hybrid/electric crossover will be if it makes it over here.
jscion says:
08:20 PM, 03/15/11
If you notice one thing about BYD, it is very familiar. Did you notice the crossover looks just like a previous generation Lexus RX? or the sedan that looks just like the previous generation Toyota Corolla? BYD understands it has only been making cars for a short time which is probably why they are using cars licensed by Toyota...HELLO??? So they are using the products of long established automakers. That gives them some credibility. If you're willing to spend $40K for a brand new used car that is electric?!?!?!