Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd. (BDNT), the 50:50 R&D Joint Venture between Daimler AG and BYD Company Limited, will reveal a Design Concept of the future joint venture electric vehicle to the public for the first time during next year’s Auto China in Beijing.
BDNT will be present at the motor show in April 2012 with its own appearance, showcasing its’s green vision, the new brand’s identity, including brand name, logo and positioning as well as the Concept Car’s exterior and interior design.
The Concept Car is going to give a first outlook on BDNT’s fully electric vehicle that is scheduled to be launched in 2013.
Work on building up the electric vehicle’s first prototypes has started with the target to have them running by springtime next year. The joint venture is leveraging BYD’s expertise in battery technology and e-drive systems and Daimler’s know-how in electric vehicle architecture and safety.
Production of the new generation of compact to mid-size electric vehicles in Shenzhen is going to be closely accompanied by Daimler’s quality management experts and will to a large extent follow Daimler’s standardised production system for passenger cars.
The supplier sourcing for the new vehicle is nearly completed. Both partners have decided to sign a number of China-based international as well as local suppliers.
In 2010, Daimler and BYD signed the contract for a 50:50 research and technology joint venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd,” (BDNT) that will develop an electric vehicle in and for China. In February 2011 BDNT has received its business license from Chinese authorities – just a few months after signing the JV contract. The vehicle will be marketed under a new brand jointly created and owned by the joint venture company BDNT.
