Asia carmakers eye wider horizons at Geneva auto show

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — Chinese and Indian carmakers struck a buoyant tone at the Geneva Auto Show Tuesday, fuelled by booming domestic demand but also with a cautious eye on established Western markets.

The optimism of China's BYD and India's Tata comes in marked contrast to the cautious outlook and revised growth forecasts of their European and North American rivals.

BYD is looking to build on its expertise in high-technology batteries to produce sophisticated hybrid and fully electric cars for foreign markets.

"We hope to start selling in Europe in two to three years," marketing manager Paul Lin told AFP.

BYD started life as a battery manufacturer in 1995 with 20 employees, but is now a diversified producer of IT services, cars and fuel technologies...