BYD F3 DM

Not an easy name to remember, but one you'll be hearing more about. During the very same week President Bush authorized a $15 billion lifeline to ailing GM and Chrysler, China's 15-month old auto manufacturer BYD (13 years as general heavy industries company) launched the F3 DM, a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid car that matches performance specs of the Toyota Prius (MSRP $25K), but at the price of a Ford Focus (MSRP $14K).

From China Car Times:

For too long, the Toyota Prius, and Honda Civic Hybrid have long been out of the reach of the common driver in China. The Prius and the Civic both cost around 250,000rmb, which pretty much makes it a rich persons toy, but the launch of the BYD F3DM makes hybrid automobiles not only affordable, but highly desireable.

The BYD F3DM starts at a mere 149,800rmb (A similar price to the Ford Focus), despite it looking like a previous generation Toyota Corolla, the gasoline version of the BYD F3 has sold extremely well, now it seems that the F3DM sales may well eclipse the gasoline version.

From BBC News:

Cars leave me cold, but not the BYD F3DM. I drove it the other day, and it really is remarkable.

In one way, it is a rather ordinary compact saloon car, though it did have exceptional acceleration when I put my foot down zooming round the factory grounds in Shenzhen, the vast new Chinese city just north of Hong Kong.

This is a plug-in electric car, hence the acceleration, but when the electric battery runs out after 80 miles (128km), the petrol engine switches in seamlessly. [...]

BYD's vast new factory did not exist 15 months ago, and they had to level several hills and fill in several lakes to create the site.

The workers mostly live in vast dormitories close by.

Like most of the Shenzhen workforce, they have migrated into the city from distant country places, moving from poverty in search of the fabled better life, spinning the great wheel of China's modernisation.

The size and scale of what BYD has already achieved is breathtaking, but that is nothing compared to its ambition.

This company has already made public its aim to be the number one car firm in China by the year 2015, and then - deep breath - number one in the whole world in 2025.

And video test drive from BusinessWeek.

And for grins, some comparative graphs of world auto producers (scroll way down for graphs, and waaaaay down to see BYD stat).

Motor Vehicle Production (1000 units):

• Japan 11596
• USA 10781
• PR China 8882

Total motor vehicle production (1000 units)

• Toyota 9497754
• GM 9349818
• BYD 100376