.jpg)
.jpg)
BYD is plotting a huge move that could make it just about unstoppable in Australia, with the brand's top executives confirming a local ride and handling project is coming that will properly tailor the Chinese brand's vehicles for our market.
It would address what many reviewers have identified as one of the brand's weaknesses on some models in Australia – driving dynamics that swap sportiness for sponginess.
The brand says it already has engineers from China and Australia in our market validating new products – which typically arrive with a "European tune" as standard – before asking HQ to make any required changes.
"We're doing it now," he says. "It's not a full-on and formal facility or project, but every model we introduce, our default is to take the European spec on their ride and handling.
"Then we validate. And if it needs local adjustments, we validate in Australia.
"If it needs local adjustments, then we'll feed that back through the R&D of the organisation and get those changes made.
"We've got a number of engineers, local and Chinese, and they're all about making sure that ride handling and other things are most suited to our model."
But Mr Collins says that program will expand to a true local ride and handling program. He says brands like Hyundai and Kia have left the "well-worn path" for companies like his to follow.
"I think we'll definitely expand it. I think it's a well-known, successful formula, so it's not rocket science. So we'll do more and more of that," he says.
"Apart from actually changing the ride and handling, I think it really shows commitment to the local market and some of the uniqueness of our market. So we'll definitely do more and more of it."
As to when an official program might launch, Mr Collins insisted it was on his to-do list, but would take time to build the required teams and processes.
"It's just building teams. It takes a while to get that up and running," he says.
