BYD Auto to launch F6, F8 within 2007

BYD Auto's sales has gone up tremendously in the first half of this year, hitting a growth of 101% year on year, but according to BYD Sales Company's General Manager, Xia Zhibing, BYD has to make more efforts to explore new car segment and will launch new models to boost sales.

BYD plans to sell 100,000 F3 sedans in 2007. In the first six months, sales of the F3 have reached 51,758 units, up 101% year on year, making BYD a fruitful automaker whose sales were among the highest in the country.

In the coming years monthly sales of BYD F3 are expected reach 20,000 units, said Xia, and he believe the model has the growth potential to achieve this goal in the light of its already very strong scale economy and production effectiveness. In addition, the F3 AT will go on sale next January, which will make further contributions to F3 sales target.

The automaker is also planing to launch a 1.5-liter hatchback sedan, the F3R, The model is equipped with a Mitsubishi 4G15S engine and Delphi electronic injection management system, providing higher fuel efficiency. The model also has larger room than other models of the same kind. "The model will be priced less than 100,000 yuan (US$12,937) and we will offer two specifications with a Mitsubishi or an independently-developed engine," Xia said.

The BYD F6 will be going into production in August and is sure to be a hit in both domestic and foreign markets. Design wise, BYD is certainly trying to take the BYD more upmarket and aim to a crowd who maybe swayed from buying smaller foreign brands but can afford a much bigger vehicle

The F6 will be packing a 2.4l engine and will be priced very competitively at 120,000rmb to 140,000rmb. The model's rivals will be Toyota Camry and VW Magotan, according to Xia.

The F8 has a definite Mercedes-Benz SL look to it. Scheduled to be launched at the end of this year, the hardtop convertible is the first one in China with independent intellectual property rights. BYD says that the F8's hard-top can be lowered in 25 seconds with the touch of a button.

The key role of F6 and F8 is to boost BYD's brand image instead of triggering much sales, said Xia. At the mean time BYD has built an engine production line in the hope of developing its own engines. BYD will commit on developing new engines using up-to-date technologies and make break through in environmental protection, fuel-efficiency and low emission and promote mass production of engines, according to Xia.