BYD to launch tablet computer below $300

BYD Co., Ltd. (SEHK: 1211) obtained net profits of CNY 2.42 billion in the first half of 2010, swelling 105.6% from CNY 1.18 billion a year earlier, according to the interim report released by the company on August 22.

Revenues rose 50.3% from CNY 16.13 billion to CNY 24.25 billion. However, net profits declined from CNY 1.704 billion a quarter ago to CNY 717 million in the second quarter. Meanwhile, operating revenues dropped 8.4% to CNY 11.59 billion.

BYD Board Chairman Wang Chaunfu discloses that the company is studying the feasibility to foray into the home appliance field and no decisions have been made.

Besides, reporters find out from an insider of BYD that the company has planned to launch laptops and set foot in the IT industry. Currently, employees of BYD all use computers designed and made by the company itself.

At Computex Taipei held in early June, Steven Jiang, manager
of BYD in charge of product market, revealed that the tablet computer of the company will be very competitive in terms of price, which is below USD 300.