BYD eyes Los Angeles as launch pad for electric cars

Chinese auto maker BYD is likely to focus on Los Angeles as it rolls out its electric cars in the US late next year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Henry Li, a senior director in charge of BYD’s non-China business, said Los Angeles was “at the top of the list” and may also become home to the company’s US headquarters. Li added that the Los Angeles area is an attractive market for electric cars because it is wealthy and open to new technologies as well as being densely populated and beset with air pollution problems. BYD’s all-electric, battery-powered e6 model, which will retail for just over US$40,000, is likely to face competition from General Motors, which plans to target California with the Volt, its plug-in hybrid car. Nissan’s all-electric Leaf vehicle is also set for a US debut in late 2010, although the company has yet to reveal its initial target market. BYD will begin by selling the e6 directly to US fleet customers before developing a dealership network.