BYD Auto is set to launch the automatic model of its F3 sedan by March this year, and the new car will be equipped with the 1.6L Mitsubishi 4G18 engine and priced below 90,000 yuan ($13,200), said xinhuanet.com today.

In 2008, BYD Auto sold 170,000 vehicles, growing by 89% from 2007, and the company will seek bigger sales growth this year, said sina.com today.

China's BYD Auto Co announced on Day 2 of the Detroit auto show that the company plans to introduce electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. in 2011 and is considering building a local plant when necessary, the Shanghai Securities Journal reported Wednesday.

On the night of Jan. 11, one of the biggest North American auto shows kicked off at Detroit. Two home-grown Chinese automakers BYD and Brilliance have come to the global auto event and attracted much attention.

China's BYD Co plans to launch five new vehicle models in 2009, including F5, F4 mid-sized sedan models, the M6 MPV, S6 SUV, and the F8 hardtop convertible models, local Chinese newspaper Beijing Business Today reported.

Shenzhen-based BYD Auto signed a Development Finance agreement with China Development Bank today. The automaker is also to introduce to the market today its first electric hybrid car F3DM, Nanfang Daily reported.

BYD announced its latest flagship model F3DM will hit the market on December 15. The electric hybrid model will be attached with a new blue BYD label, which is specially design for BYD new energy car models, Beijing News said, citing sources of BYD Auto.

BYD’s electric and hybrid model F3DM has been approved to be mass produced and go on sale, Beijing Times said, citing an announcement by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) - the state regulator of China's auto industry.

In a recent interview by auto163.com, Honda President Takeo Fukui said he didn’t think highly of BYD’s research and development of electric cars.

Chinese battery and auto manufacturer BYD is preparing to unveil a series of new models at the 6th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition opening tomorrow.

An insider for Chinese carmaker BYD Auto said that the company has specified its plans for 2009 production and sales, which include the production of three new models and the self-developed DM (Dual Mode) electric vehicles, and the target of doubling its sales to 400,000 vehicles in the year, said xinhuanet.com today.

BYD Co said it is on course to reach 200,000-unit sales target set for this year and is planning to double this volume next year, a local Chinese newspaper reported.