China's BYD linked to Aussie car production plan
New factory on Sydney’s outskirts to build cars, trucks and busesChinese BYD electric cars could soon be built in Australia.
A company called Nexport which is a local partner of the giant Chinese EV-maker has purchased 51 hectares of land at Moss Vale on Sydney’s southern outskirts to build a production plant.
“We are building the first seven-star green-rated production plant, to produce zero-emission buses, trucks and cars in NSW,” Nexport boss Luke Todd posted to the social media website LinkedIn.
“Zero-emission transport products, produced in a high-capacity, purpose-built, carbon-neutral manufacturing facility right here in NSW.
“It's time to get serious and make NSW strong again. Advanced manufacturing for NSW....let's make it ours!”
It is expected an official announcement about Nexport and BYD’s plans will come within days. Timelines, financing and product line-ups have yet to be announced.
The new BYD Han sedan is understood to be one vehicle Todd has in his sights for Australian sale.
If the plant is built and production starts it will be the first major investment in Australian auto manufacturing in decades.
This is not the first time Todd has been linked with a plan to build BYD cars in Australia.
In 2019 Nexport partnered with Adelaide-based Fusion Capital – the backers of Brabham Automotive – to form a company called Evant that would import BYD vehicles and eventually build them in South Australia.
This deal failed to proceed and Todd and Nexport have been beavering away at the deal that is only just emerging now.
carsales has approached Todd numerous times in recent months to tell his story, but he has declined to go public. Fusion Capital has not responded to a series of enquiries.
Another financial partner that has been linked with Nexport is Macquarie Bank, which was announced as a supporter of a plan to import electric BYD trucks to Australia.
Macquarie has not replied to questions from carsales about that arrangement.
Nexport has also been associated with a plan to set up an electric taxi service, Etaxico, on Sydney’s northern beaches, as we reported here.
In a video posted to Linkedin, Todd explains he is a fourth-generation busing operator.
“Proudly I feel that I am now going to lead a company that’s going to see a major transition from combustion vehicles to a much cleaner environmental outcome,” he said.
We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
Related: BYD electric cars due in Australia early 2021
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