Big dreams from Build Your Dreams

DETROIT – BYD (Build Your Dreams) is the fourth-largest automaker in China, and this year the aggressive company was making its third appearance at the North American International Auto Show. Here’s how Henry Li, general manger of auto export trade, outlined BYD’s own dreams for the future:

1. Increase domestic sales from 450,000 vehicles in 2009 to 800,000 in 2010.

2. Begin selling the E6 plug-in electric in North America before the end of this year.

3. Become the No. 1 automaker in China by 2015.

4. Become No. 1 in the world by 2025!

Rather lofty abitions, but remember that BYD is one of the world’s biggest battery makers and has been in business only since 1995, starting with a handful of employees. BYD now has 10 production facilities in China and employs 150,000 worldwide.

On display was the E6 “pure electric” hatchback which they hope to bring here. It has a top speed of 140 km/h, a range of 330 km in cruise mode and a 0-100 km/h time of about 14.0 seconds.

And they’re also talking about launching a U.S. auto plant sooner rather than later.

Big dreams, indeed.