BYD to market electric car in U.S. next year

Chinese battery and carmaker BYD Co. plans to start test-marketing the e6, its all-electric battery car, in the U.S. next year. According to Stella Li, BYD’s senior vice president and head of its U.S. operations, the e6 vehicle’s launch, which was supposed to be this year, was delayed due to BYD’s efforts to make the car roomier. BYD plans to ship as many as 50 e6 electric cars by the end of next year to fleet customers in southern California. Li said BYD will make the e6 available for purchase by private buyers in the U.S. in 2012. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu said the e6 model will be sold for slightly more than US$40,000. (December 13, 2010)