Chinese car-maker commits to Australian EV production

Full-scale car production is set to return to Australia under the tenure of a bourgeoning Chinese electric car-maker that includes backing from American business magnate Warren Buffett.

The Australian Financial Review reports Chinese car-maker BYD Co has signed a deal with Adelaide-based group EVANT to build an EV for the Australian market from late 2020.

The electric model would be sold under a new brand, which will be unveiled in the coming months, with plans to first commence production in China before shifting manufacturing operations to Adelaide.

BYD Co has signed a memorandum of understanding with EVANT to produce three different right-hand drive passenger vehicles, including mid-size and full-size SUVs. Officials are already pitching at the premium end of the market with advanced technology and an electric range of 650km.

EVANT has backing from transport group Nexport and investment fund Fusion Capital, one of the major investors in Brabham Automotive and the Adelaide-produced BT62.

The newly-devised EV operation has extensive technical know-how in the industry.
EVANT director Christian Reynolds is a former Tesla engineer, while one of Fusion Capital's directors is Mat Fitch, owner of Precision Components, a big supplier of automotive components to Holden when it was a manufacturer in Australia.

Reynolds sees opportunity in “the premium space” for the mystery Chinese brand.
The BYD Co and EVANT collaboration isn’t alone in its pursuit of electric vehicle manufacturing in Australia.

British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta is likewise eyeing off an electric vehicle strategy after working with the UK’s Gordon Murray Design.

Gupta said last month that he aimed to have a production run of between 10,000 and 20,000 in Australia and was leaning toward a ''smart car'' for urban environments.

A Queensland-based start-up, ACE EV Group, has also announced plans to produce a brace of electric vehicles in Australia.