Chinese plug-in hybrid, BYD F3DM, has sold just 80 copies in four months
If reports coming out of China are true, the BYD Dual Mode (range-extended) electric cars might not become the sales threat that some Chevy Volt fans fear. It's being claimed that the BYD F3DM has only sold 80 units since its December launch, due to its high price and fears about battery performance and reliability. Priced at 149,800 yuan ($21,915) and available only to Chinese fleet buyers (typically government agencies and state-owned companies) initially, 20 of the vehicles were purchased by the Shenzhen government. The same entity was to acquire more to add to the cities taxi fleet but it is rumored that talks surrounding that deal have stalled. This contrasts sharply with the gasoline-only F3, which is available to ordinary Chinese citizens who snapped up 20,940 copies in March alone.
BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu expects they will lower the price of the F3DM to around 109,800 yuan ($16,062) once they start building them in larger numbers, which should convince some buyers. Another hurdle to overcome, he believes, is the lack of charging stations, of which only a handful currently exist. While that is a problem that should be solved as planned stations are constructed, countering fears of battery performance and other issues may take a concerted marketing effort as well as independent verification of the company's tech claims.
Gallery: 2009 BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid
Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYD F6DM and F3DM
[Source: CRI / Gasgoo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 12:20PM (4/13/2009)
Or the slow sales might because the car is a sham.
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polo 12:46AM (4/14/2009)
Whats a sham?? They are a reputable company, and the sales are actually in-line with their projections. Do you seriously think Warren Buffet would be throwing hundred of millions of dollars...on a "sham"??
From businessweek:
--"In cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing, people live in big buildings where there is nowhere to plug in." Henry Li, general manager of BYD Auto, acknowledges this problem and only projects sales of a few hundred in the next 12 months. "We need to try and demonstrate the cars and show their benefits," he says.
--Still, it will take a lot of driving to justify the F3 DM's price tag, more than twice the gasoline version of the F3, which is available for between $7,500 and $9,900. Another challenge is how to set up quick-charge ports in Chinese cities, which will be essential for the success of BYD's fully electric vehicle, the E6, which it plans to roll out later next year.
--BYD has momentum on its side. The F3 was China's best-selling sedan in October, shipping more than 15,000 cars. In the first 10 months of the year, BYD's total sales grew 36%, compared with industrywide sales of just 10.25%. BYD's Hong Kong-traded shares are down 12% this year, compared with a nearly 50% fall in the Hang Seng China Enterprise Index of mainland stocks, thanks to the Buffet stake and strong auto sales. The company, which had sales of $3.1 billion in 2007 and earnings of $235 million, will have sales of $3.93 billion and profits of $196 million this year, estimates brokerage CLSA.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2008/gb20081215_913780.htm
Chris M 2:34AM (4/14/2009)
Umm, they sold these 80 cars to the Chinese Government, and It would be quite literally suicidal to try to sell "sham" cars to the Chinese government, which takes a rather dim view of anyone trying to cheat them.
I'm not sure of the reason for the limited sales. It could be due to limited production, or it could be that was all the Government ordered and they haven't got permission to sell to the general public yet.
herve 7:08AM (5/04/2009)
i am french
i live not so fare from the BYD factory
I hav seen the F3DM
this is not a sham
stupid comment you did above
this is by this sort of comments that we ignore the power of competition...
justy keep your vision, this is fine...
Nick 1:23PM (4/13/2009)
Sounds like BYD is pulling an EV1 on people.
1) The car is NOT available to individual buyers, why
2) People are afraid of potential battery issues, and that's why batteries should have a good warranty...which leads me to think this car doesn't have such warranty.
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polo 1:51PM (4/13/2009)
The BYD F3DM is in fleet testing as is restricted to government sales only. For someone would take that to mean its worries about to battery performance is stupid. Individuals can't even buy the car yet. Look at all the other automakers testing EVs. They're doing exactly the same thing BYD is doing - limited government-only fleet testing with around 100 or so EVs...so whats the point of this article? When the Chevy does fleet testing with a few hundred Volts are you going to announce they only sold a couple hundred due to worries about battery performance?
The only news here they lowered the price and didn't clinch a deal with Shenzhen government who was considering them for taxis. And even then thats not a surprise because even with the F3DM's 230mile range those taxis probably travel hundreds of miles a day and would lose money waiting for a recharge unless they partnered with a utility to install fast-charging stations (they didn't).
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why not the LS2LS7? 8:08PM (4/13/2009)
Worries about the battery performance? I'm not worried. I'm quite certain the figures are a lie.
But beyond that, I think the reason for only selling it in limited markets is because they cannot afford to take the per-copy loss on too many copies sold.
polo 12:23AM (4/14/2009)
"Worries about the battery performance? I'm not worried. I'm quite certain the figures are a lie."
And I'm quite certain you don't even own a car. Regardless the BYD F3DM is a ranged-extended EV, like the Volt. It can go on gas even if when the batteries are bone-dry so range/battery anxiety isn't an issue.
"But beyond that, I think the reason for only selling it in limited markets is because they cannot afford to take the per-copy loss on too many copies sold."
Why don't you the articles posted here?? EVERY AUTOMAKER that has announced plans for their EVs are doing fleet tests at least a year before the public, usually restricted to the government. They aren't selling it in "limited markets", its being *tested* in controlled sales with local governments, idiot. They also wouldn't be lowering the price if they were worried about per-copy losses.
andrichrose 3:32PM (4/13/2009)
Send them to europe we will buy them !"
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Ernie 3:42PM (4/13/2009)
"Another hurdle to overcome, he believes, is the lack of charging stations"
Eh? I thought the whole point of dual-mode hybrids was to eliminate the need for charging stations beyond an outlet in your garage.
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Dave 4:33PM (4/13/2009)
Does anyone else think it looks like a Corolla? Must be a fun car to drive. Toyota styling with Chinese build quality.
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gerrrg 11:17AM (4/14/2009)
Say what? The Chinese copying someone else? No way? ;)
Bill 8:54PM (4/13/2009)
BYD continues to make some amazing claims for battery range, even though they are using a lithium battery technology that normally offers lower capacity than competitors.
Doesn't look like their vehicles live up to the claims.
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polo 12:48AM (4/14/2009)
"BYD continues to make some amazing claims for battery range, even though they are using a lithium battery technology that normally offers lower capacity than competitors."
They are using LiFePO4 batteries which are very different than the Li-ion batteries that the other automakers are using. The government also owns the battery companies and lithium deposits in China and has a stake in BYD, meaning they can get lithium at a bargain. 60 miles on a charge for an ER-EV is also not that out-of-this-world.
Bashing China won't save you 8:16AM (9/01/2009)
To all the campers out there: you might want to read http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/04/13/buffetts-chinese-electric-car-company
Bashing the Japanese a few decades ago didn't keep them from showing you how it's done 8oP
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Maneesh 3:33PM (4/14/2009)
BYD needs to copy the jewish company "Better Place". Which removes the drained battery at service stations, and puts in a fully charged one! How it works: You buy a Better Place car and then buy "miles" (instead of gallons), like you buy "minutes" from a Mobile Phone Company.
You can go into a Better Place service station anywhere in Israel and replace ur empty battery with a fully charged battery in less than 3 minutes. No need for apartment dwellers to worry about charging at home!!!!
http://www.betterplace.com/press-room/videos-detail/whats-better-place/
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