Aruba Partners with BYD in Zero-Emissions Initiative, Energy Independence by 2020

Today, Aruba's Prime Minister Mike G. Eman, Minister of Finance, Mike de Meza, and Mr. Frank Hoevertsz, the Managing-Director of Utilities Aruba N.V. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BYD Company Limited, BYD America's President, Ms. Stella Li. The MOU outlines Aruba's plans to be the first Nation with a completely zero-carbon footprint and energy independence (with only clean sustainable renewable power sources). The four major objectives in the MOU included electrifying all public transportation (with zero- emissions vehicles), substantially increasing renewable energy generation (both solar and wind), making those resource dispatchable upon demand with distributed, environmentally-friendly, energy storage and lastly a nation-wide plan for public re-education and sustainability programs in all schools. Through each of these, Aruba plans to use BYD green-technologies to pursue its goal of becoming an emissions-free Nation by the year 2020.

Prime Minister Eman welcomed Stella Li to beautiful Aruba and led the ceremony by stating, "We are excited about the MOU we are signing. This document signifies both parties interests and commitment to work together to introduce electric vehicles and green products in Aruba. In our transition phase towards 100% sustainability, BYD will support Aruba demonstrating how to convert all our vehicles, including cars, buses, taxis and all private and public vehicles into electrified transportation." The first and most important of all these initiatives is the electrification of public transportation. Aruba plans to place into service four BYD zero-emission, long-range all-electric buses and one BYD e6 electric taxi comprising a fleet for public/government use by September-end 2013. Energy generation and storage are the next areas of development that Aruba has committed to pursuing. The nation has plans to double their wind farms and make these farms self-sustaining and dispatchable using BYD's Iron-Phosphate grid-scale storage technologies. Leveraging these same battery Energy Storage Stations, they will also deploy new, large-scale stand-alone BYD Solar generation projects throughout the island. Ms. Li remarked that, "BYD Company was completely impressed by the vision of the government leaders of Aruba and fully supported Aruba becoming the first completely sustainable Nation in the World."

The third objective in Aruba's plan uses BYD LED technology to reduce electricity consumption and build up vital communities through education and infrastructural improvements. Aruba will convert much of their public lighting to high-efficiency BYD LED Street and Indoor Lighting Solutions. Further, there are plans to electrify all of its schools using rooftop solar installations and build education programs around sustainability programs. The nation intends to use BYD solar generation, external and internal LED lighting systems, and electric vehicles to develop its "smart community" project in Kibaima. The Kibaima project, conceived in 2012, has operated as an exemplar and "laboratory" for sustainability ventures throughout the nation. Minister de Meza elaborated on the prime minister's comments by stating that, "Aruba is honored to work together with BYD. In the light of BYD's broad portfolio of green technologies, especially in renewable energy and storage, Aruba is very happy to partner with you. We have a vision and a plan to have 100% sustainable energy by 2020. There are only seven years left." Minister de Meza also explained to Mrs. Li that, "Aruba is already working with renowned institutions like the Carbon War Room, TNO, among others. But with today's MOU, BYD has become part of the Aruba green family."

Ms. Li told the prime ministers Eman and de Meza that "they both have amazing visions for their country and BYD has the technology to help them realize their dreams -- we are one of the largest solar panel providers in the world with ample experience and we are the largest environmentally-friendly, energy storage provider in the world!" In reaching each of these goals, Aruba aims to lead the world in carbon footprint reductions and be a catalyst and example to the other Caribbean and Latin American Nations. For more information, visit BYD at www.facebook.com/bydcompany and www.byd.com.

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王传福：比亚迪“分分钟”可造出特斯拉

6月7日，比亚迪于深圳坪山总部召开股东大会，现场出席股东超过百人，加之关注股东会的媒体记者众多，一百多平方米的会场被挤得满满当当。比亚迪董事局主席兼总裁王传福在股东会上表示，经过三年的调整，比亚迪2013年迎来转机，他将今年视作公司“二次腾飞元年”，称公司今年在IT、汽车业务方面已有了良好的开局，其中，电动出租车公司——鹏程电动已经实现了盈利。王传福还信心满满的表示——家庭消费一旦起动，比亚迪“分分钟”可以造出“特斯拉”。

    王传福主要从IT、汽车和太阳能等业务方面介绍了公司今年的发展情况，并对未来一段时期的发展进行了展望。

    IT业务方面，此前由于苹果IPHONE横空出世，诺基亚手机特别是智能手机市场份额势微，比亚迪作为诺基亚的代工商遭受不小冲击。不过，随着后苹果时代的到来，三星、HTC等手机厂商开始被消费者追捧，作为少数在技术、品管、产能上能与富士康抗衡的企业，比亚迪已成为三星和HTC的重要供应商。“产业链调整给了规模代工企业新的机会，这一次我们抓住了。”王传福说，“目前，包括HTC、三星，还有老客户华为和诺基亚都找比亚迪代工。”

    以HTC one为例，比亚迪主要承接两块业务：一个是结构件生产，一个是整机代工。其中，部分结构件技术让王传福引以为傲。他表示，“以前的手机壳是塑胶的，未来随着产品高档化，金属外壳将成趋势。但为了保持各种天线信号不受影响，金属外壳必须留出缝隙。目前公司就掌握了这样的技术，即塑胶与金属的混融技术(PMH)，能够做到金融与塑胶纳米级融合。HTC one、诺基亚的LUMIA925都采用这种技术。”

    此外，比亚迪在平板电脑代工方面也取得较大突破，而且该项业务已成为公司新的利润增长点。“此前笔记本电脑基本被台资企业垄断，索尼等笔记本电脑，公司只接到很少一部分代工业务，规模不大。但现在公司开始和不少大客户合作，比如和惠普合作，有些项目已经出货了。”王传福说，比亚迪在平板电脑代工方面具备两大优势：一是电池，二是触摸屏。未来公司还会不断拓展客户数量和规模。

    而在汽车业务方面，王传福对传统汽车保持同比增长信心很大。他预计，今年汽车行业整体销量将增长8%，比亚迪自身的销量增长将在10%-30%。据他介绍，当前速锐月销量仍然保持9000台以上。思锐和M6则处于爬坡阶段。

    新能源汽车方面，虽然地方政府阻力仍存，但是公司鼓励性销售政策推出后，效果相当明显。当然，最有说服力的是，作为全球首个纯电动汽车出租车公司——鹏程电动开始盈利了。据了解，一季度盈利达500多万元，全年盈利预计在2000万元以上。对于市场普遍关注的“特斯拉”热潮，王传福认为特斯拉在推广纯电动汽车和培育消费者习惯方面起到了极好的作用。他表示，公司的纯电动车的发展模式和特斯拉不同，目前的定位是出租车和公交车。“对公司来说，纯电动汽车技术不是问题，市场才是问题。要扩张新产能，投资4-5年时间就够了。”王传福说，“如果家庭消费一旦起动，比亚迪 分分钟 就可以造出 特斯拉 。”

    此外，王传福还透露，公司太阳能业务目前亏损正在收窄，下半年有望扭亏。

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China Wants To Be Home To World's Next Tesla

China’s government will shift its financial support of the electronic vehicle niche market and pump more resources into research and development, the Minister of Science and Technology said on Friday.

Beijing is getting savvy about the global auto market, a market it now dominates in terms of number of cars sold. It now wants to be a market leader in lithium battery production and innovation. It also wants to see one of its myriad car companies become the next Tesla, or at the very least, follow in the footsteps of the Korean automakers Hyundai and KIA.

The government has been a staunch supporter of electric vehicles, providing production subsidies, land and low interest loans to auto makers like BYD , an EV maker that even Warren Buffet invests in. (Or did).

The government wants to increase the number of EVs on the road in China over the next five years, said Wan Gang, minister of science and technology, adding that government subsidies are only “short-term solutions”.  It is likely that the pure EVs driving up and down the city streets of Shanghai will be made in China, and probably BYDs.  China Daily reported Wan saying that the industry can only be sustained and expanded by raising their technology levels and lowering costs so consumers can actually afford the cars in the first place.

Wan said direct government incentives for consumers are likely to be phased out by 2020, providing operational expenses can be lowered and the market for EVs can be expanded.  Beijing currently rebates of up to 60,000 yuan (or $9,790) towards the purchase price of battery-powered cars.

“The government is unwaveringly committed to the industry, but EV makers should never count on subsidies to survive,” Wan said on the sidelines of the 2013 International Forum on Electric Vehicle Pilot Cities and Industrial Development in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday. “It is imperative (for companies) to enhance their core competence with research and innovation.”

China still running ahead of the United States in terms of cars sold.

Over the last six months, EV cars have made news when Tesla sales surpassed that of the country’s first EV, the Chevrolet Volt.  Although not a pure EV like the Tesla models and Nissan Leaf, it is powered moreso by battery and electric engine technology than are the popular hybrids like the Toyota Prius, which have a larger gasoline engine than the Volt.  When Tesla sales beat the Volt recently, share prices skyrocketed.  But over the last six months, Tesla shares have tracked BYD, China’s biggest EV maker.

In fact, BYD (HKG: 0285) is up 168% since December 3 and Tesla is up 189%.   Year-to-date ending May 31 has BYD also trading like Tesla, up 143% while Tesla is beating it, up 188%.

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