BYD may supply batteries for Volkswagen

Apr. 28, 2009 (China Knowledge) - BYD Co<1211>, China's largest rechargeable batteries maker as well as automobile producer, is likely to supply lithium-ion batteries for Germany's Volkswagen AG and it will demonstrate its battery products at the automaker's headquarters in Germany, said Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn at the Shanghai auto show last week, sources reported.

BYD's sales manager Wang Jianjun said that BYD is in lithium-ion battery supply talks with a number of foreign companies, and the company is willing to cooperate with overseas automakers on the development of lithium-ion batteries.

BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu earlier said selling of batteries to automakers in overseas markets will help the company to further reinforce its leading position in the global electric car market and help it compete with other leading companies in the same field. 

BYD's lithium-ion battery cells are relatively cost-effective, partly because of its advanced technology and the cheap labor force in China.