The latest development regarding the cables and the automotive industry concerns Chinese car maker BYD, who falls victim to the rhetoric of several high-ranking government officials. The revelations of the cables, which pretty much say that BYD has a tendency to copy other companies' technologies, are of particular concern to the Americans, whose Warren Buffet is a BYD shareholder.
According to a telegram sent back in October 2009 by Guangzhou Consul-General Brian Goldbeck for “US government eyes only,” and revealed by Reuters, “BYD achieved a measure of success based on a business approach of copying and then modifying car designs just enough to convince Chinese courts that the company has not infringed on patents.”
The text is part of a bigger written assessment made by US officials and ironically titled "BYD seeks to 'Build Your Dreams' - based on Someone Else's Designs." Aside for this tendency to copy designs, BYD is also seen as an auto maker who uses the money it saves on development to undercut competitors on price and even as one that cuts a lot of corners when it comes to safety.
BYD is one of the biggest players on the Chinese market, and aims at becoming a global player soon. Very keen on the cars of the future, EVs, the car maker has partnerships with several other companies, including Daimler, with which it plans to work on new models.
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