BYD, like many other Chinese Car makers, have come from absolutely no where to being one of the best selling brands in China in a very short time. September sales indicate that their BYD F3 model sold a staggering 12,455 cars, and the recently launched BYD F0 mini car sold an impressive 10,059 cars in the first month of its launch.

So what makes BYD so popular?

Well, the answer is quite simple. They make cars that are no fuss, they are basic motors in every sense, their designs are Toyota inspired, an issue that plagues them in international markets but seems to be a bonus within the borders of the PRC. Although BYD refute any claims that they copied anything and own all their own patents for their models, its quite clear, even to the untrained eye, where BYD got their styling cues from. And its these styling cues that help them sell so well, the F3 is an understated car that appeals to a small family, it doesnt stand out from the crowds on the roads, but it does appear to do everything that a small family would need, and it does it at a cheap price.

The F0 is another BYD sucess story, and another Toyota inspired design. The F0 is rather like the Toyota Aygo, which is then shared with PSA for the Peugeot and Citroen models. The F0 is a stylish little motor, and comes at a very cheap price. The overall build quality looks to be reasonable,  which is not what you would imagine on a sub 8000USD car. It comes as no surprise to China Car Times to hear that BYD have managed to sell over 10,000 F0’s in their first few months, and no doubt as more people see the F0 on the streets, demand will continue for such a cool little car.

On the other hand, BYD, a battery manufacturer before coming a car manufacturer, is going down a brave new road, a road that has not been entirely tread on by the international car makers as of yet. BYD are actively putting their battery technology into their cars to give them a headstart on the rest of the automotive world with hybrid and electric vehicles.

Warren Buffet seems to believe that BYD are the future, with him investing 230million USD into BYD which in return gave him a 10% share of BYD, BYD are planning to reinvest that money into new designs, many of which they showed off as prototypes at the Shanghai Car Show earlier this year, cars such as the BYD E6 are set to revolutionize the automobile markets as we know them in China. Once Chinese consumers realize that their gasoline money is leaving the country and into foreigners hands, as the opium trade once emptied Chinese coffers of silver, then a vast movement to electric cars will begin. It will no doubt be a government initiated programme, once which will see the government give tax breaks to Chinese hybrid manufacturers.