BYD: Gas for developing countries, EVs for developed countries

Autonews interviewed Henry Li, general manager of BYD Auto's export division, and got the Chinese marque's plans for international expansion. BYD's plans can be summarized this way: "gas for developing countries, EVs for developed countries." Currently the manufacturer is selling about 7,000 cars in 20 countries, most of them the F3 sedan (pictured above) and they expect to see sales increases of 50 to 70 percent this year. However, when the car comes to Europe, it will likely be the electric version. According to Li, BYD is thinking of starting pilot sales of the F3 EV in countries such as Denmark and Portugal, and the company has announced a contract with the Hipogest Group in Portugal to distribute its cars there and in Israel in 2009

[Source: Automotive News (subs. req'd)]