Authorities in California wooing China BYD automaker
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China's BYD F6DM, powered by electric motors and gasoline engine, is displayed at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), in Detroit, the United States, JaN. 11, 2009. [Xinhua] |
A China automaker has made headlines in California as it is considering locating its U.S. office and assembly line in the state, a US media reported on Tuesday.
The office and assembly line are expected to create high-paying jobs in a state hard-hit by the recent recession.
The Chinese automaker BYD, or Build Your Dreams, may really build a dream in California after it has teamed up with German automaking giant Daimler-Benz to manufacture an A-class electric vehicle.
As one of the world's largest rechargeable battery and consumer electronics makers, BYD entered the U.S. market this year with its electric car model BYD e6 through the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The first batch of such cars is to hit markets in Europe, the United States and China as early as next year.
Morale-boosted by the BYD intention, local authorities from both the Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City reportedly met BYD executives to woo the firm to locate its office and assembly line on their premises.
Several other places including Long Beach and Lancaster have also joined the race to attract the attention of China's fourth biggest carmaker.
"It would be a tremendous boost to our economy and economic growth and prosperity," said Tony Bell, spokesman for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.
As the largest auto market in the United States, California has recently seen a mushrooming of so-called "green tech" firms involved in the research and production of electric and other alternative energy vehicles.
BYD is expected to produce better versions of electric cars by adding its long-life rechargeable battery to Benz chassis and transmission.
The e6's, an all-electric crossover car, already are claimed to reach a range of 400 kilometers per charge.
Though local pundits claim that California is the right place for BYD to locate its U.S. office and assembly line, BYD executives remained silent on the issue.
Local authorities have made wooing BYD to open business in California their top priority, hoping the addition of the Chinese electric car maker would help create in California a new and greener Detroit.
