BYD F3

BYD F3. 2005 to date (prod. over 100,000). 4- and 5-door sedan. F/F, 998 cm³ petrol–electric hybrid (I3 DOHC), 1497, 1499, 1598 cm³ petrol (I4 OHC). Toyota Corolla (E120) clone (not under licence) from BYD, with four-door sedan looking derivative, while F3R hatchback had a smart redo with rear end similar to Daewoo Lacetti 5. Exported to Ukraine. Broke 10,000-per-month sales’ barrier January 2007; 100,000th model produced in June. First production plug-in electric car, using BYD’s background in batteries, from December 2008, initially for government officials. Plain and dull, though the electric model has not taken off as the company expected, despite a hefty government subsidy. Hatchback deleted after 2011. Hybrid replaced by Qin in 2014, and higher-end models replaced by Surui, though F3 continued as a cheaper, small sedan. Substantial facelift in 2016.

Manufacturing location: Xi’an, China

Marque: BYD | Successors: BYD Surui, BYD Qin (2013–)