Guide to Buying EV
BYD Cars Become Global Leaders
BYD Cars Become Global Leaders
China's BYD (pronounced byy-d) started making rechargeable batteries for cell phones in the early '90s and pivoted to cars in 2003, starting with cloned Toyota models.byd cars china The company quickly rose to the top three in its home market, and billionaire investor Warren Buffett became a key early booster. Now, as the firm pushes into global markets and prepares to open a factory in Mexico, it's challenging some of the world's biggest automakers.
Its hybrid electric vehicles propelled BYD to become one of the country's biggest carmakers, and it has since branched out into other types of cars.byd cars china The company is a global leader in electric buses and trucks, with a presence in more than 70 countries and regions worldwide. The company also has a number of electric SUVs, including the Qin and Tang, and it partners with Daimler AG to make the Denza line.
BYD also has a range of electric sedans, including the Seal and its newest variant, the Seal EV Plus, which is set to go on sale in 2023.byd cars china It has slashed the price of its best-selling model, the Atto 3—known as the Seagull outside China—by about 11% to put it under $10,000. It's also cutting the cost of its more luxurious model, the Han, which debuted this year and sets a new standard for Chinese-made luxury EVs.
The Han has a distinctively modern exterior, with bold features like dragon claw-style taillights and the Dragon Face design language that blends Eastern and Western aesthetics.byd cars china Inside, it has high-quality Napa leather seats and solid wood panels that set the tone for a confidently contemporary interior. And it has smart features, including the ability to unlock the vehicle using your phone and even use your smartphone as a second monitor for the infotainment system.
But some of the more impressive features on the Han are a bit strange, such as the door pockets that have elastic strings that look like guitar strings and are taut enough to strum to create a bass-line sound when you open the door.byd cars china There are even stereo speakers in the door pockets to amplify the effect.
Whether the company can expand outside its home market and crack a significant share of the North American auto market remains to be seen. The company faces stiff competition from established players, including Tesla, and it's already battling 25 percent tariffs imposed by President Trump and Vice President Biden. And that could get even steeper if the government decides to move forward with plans to import most vehicles made in China through its proposed new trade route from Mexico. But if BYD can establish a beachhead in Europe and gain sales in other emerging markets, it might have a shot at becoming the next global EV powerhouse. It's a longshot, but there are plenty of other companies that have gone from the butt of a joke to near-competition with century-old stalwarts before.
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