BYD and Brilliance at Detroit show

For the first time, two Chinese automakers will have main floor exhibit space at Cobo Center for the 2009 Detroit auto show.

Chinese automakers BYD Auto Co. and Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co. will occupy about 11,000 square feet on the main floor. The space was reserved for Mitsubishi Motors Corp. but became available after that company pulled out of the show.

"They've been waiting, all the exhibitors in Michigan Hall, so it's a wonderful opportunity for them," said Joe Serra, show co-chairman. BYD and Brilliance "have been notified and they're thrilled."

Chinese automakers have had a presence in Detroit for years but were always in Michigan Hall -- the lower level of Cobo Center -- or the lobby. BYD and Brilliance do not sell vehicles in the United States.

Besides Mitsubishi, five other automakers have pulled out of the show. Nissan North America said yesterday it dropped out of next year's Detroit and Chicago auto shows, citing depressed economic conditions.

Nissan, the biggest automaker to skip out of the show, followed the exits of Suzuki, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari. Porsche pulled out of the show last year and has not returned.

© Source: autoweek
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BYD e6 - 2008 Beijing Auto Show

BEIJING — BYD Auto is rapidly establishing itself as China's green car company, with an ever-expanding portfolio of vehicles powered by batteries and hybrid systems. Its latest effort, a midsize electric crossover dubbed the e6, broke cover at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show.

This pure electric is expected to reach the China market within the next 12-24 months and could be among the initial wave of BYD models planned for export.

The e6 has a range of 186 miles on a full charge and can zip from zero to 60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Top speed is 99 mph.

No word yet on pricing, but BYD's existing range sells for $12,000-$20,000.

What this means to you: BYD continues to stretch the green envelope.

© Source: edmunds
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Byd Bidding for Place on World Stage

Byd Auto, which is owned by one of China's biggest mobile phone battery producers, aims to become a serious player in the auto industry worldwide. The company, based in Xi'an city, says it wants to manufacture 500,000 cars a year by 2009

At Auto Shanghai, Byd showed its F3R, which looks very much like Shanghai GM's Buick Excelle HR-V (known as the Suzuki Reno here). The F3R is the hatch version of the F3 sedan, which in turn is a close copy of the locally produced Toyota Corolla.

Top-spec models will be powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder Mitsubishi-sourced gas engine, complete with a Delphi fuel-injection system. Basic models will get Byd's own 1.3-liter unit. Sticker price will be the equivalent of about $8,900, which will include an MP3 player, four-wheel disc brakes and other modern conveniences. Byd says it has paid special attention to safety, so there are ABS and intelligent headlamps — although no mention of airbags.

Byd currently sells the Suzuki Alto-derived Flyer subcompact in addition to the current F3. The F3R is one of a group of models in Byd's pipeline including the BMW 7-esque F6 and the F8 hardtop convertible, which looks like a result of a collision between a Mercedes-Benz CLK and a Renault Megane CC.

© Source: article on insideline
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