BYD intends to launch its electric e6 car in the US market next year, the Wall Street Journal reported. The US push – and a second production line for automotive lithium-ion batteries near BYD’s Shenzhen headquarters – will be funded by a planned sale of 100 million new shares in mainland China ahead of a listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as early as next year. The sale could raise up to US$500 million based on current prices, though approval from the government is still pending. The company is relying on its ties to MidAmerican Energy Holding, a unit of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway which previously paid US$230 million for a 9.9% stake in BYD. MidAmerican Chairman David Sokol promised to assist BYD’s move into the US auto market and also expressed an interest in increasing MidAmerican’s stake in the Chinese company. For now, only a few hundred e6s will be available in limited markets in the US. The electric cars take 7-9 hours to charge using a regular home outlet. The five-seater will be priced at a little over US$40,000.