Automotive News Europe
June 12, 2008 11:37 CET

THE HAGUE -- Chinese carmaker BYD Auto is choosing retail groups to distribute and sell its cars in Europe.

Dutch dealer group Autobinck has been appointed BYD distributor for the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.

An industry source said BYD will announce distributors for other European markets later this week or early next week.

BYD President Wang Chuanfu is currently traveling through Europe to meet with potential distributors.

Henri Li, BYD's European director, signed a contract with Autobinck Chairman Rolf Laurent and CEO Henny van Dijk to distribute BYD in the five markets on Wednesday, July 12.

Van Dijk said that it is not yet decided when BYD will start selling its cars in Europe.

Chuanfu said at the Geneva auto show in March that some BYD models will meet European safety and emission regulations in 2009. "A sales start in early 2010 would be ideal," Chuanfu said at the show.

Chuanfu also said that BYD intends to start selling plug-in hybrid models in Europe first, with conventional gasoline models following later.

Autobinck distributes Hyundai cars in the five markets in which it plans to sell BYD cars. It also sells Mitsubishi cars in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Mazda in the Netherlands.

The group also will sell Infiniti cars in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary.