BYD to start selling e6 crossover in U.S. this year

Chinese automaker BYD says it's going to bring its electric e6 crossover vehicle to the U.S. by the end of the year. It made the announcement today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The e6 is a five-passenger family hauler.  BYD says will it have more range and capability than a lot of the other electric vehicles coming to the market because it has a unique battery chemistry. As a result,  BYD says the e6 can go from zero to 60 mph in less than 14 seconds, achieve a top speed of 140 miles per hour and that it will have a range of 205 miles.

Chinese automakers have talked about coming to the U.S. for years, but none have successfully made it yet. Of course, it doesn't hurt that BYD has a not-so-secret advantage:

One of its investors is billionaire Warren Buffett.

Other automakers are watching BYD, and other new entrants, with interest. "It's one thing to want to sell in the U.S. It's another to set up a dealer network," says Jim Lentz, president of Toyota's U.S. marketing arm.

New companies also have to arrange the marketing and go through the other costly tasks before they can sell. Launching a new nameplate can cost $100 million, Lentz says.

BYD has come to the auto show in Detroit before. Last year, its officials gave out fancy press kits. This year information on the cars came on a little key chain with a squishy model of the e6.