EV Startup BYTON to Work with Bosch on Electric Powertrains and Braking Systems

author: FutureCar Staff    

Automotive supplier Bosch is to team up with Chinese-funded electric vehicle startup Byton, Reuters reported. Bosch will supply Byton with powertrain, brake and driver assistance systems, the company said in a statement.

Byton is another promising China-backed EV startup. The company has financial backing from Chinese carmaker FAW Group and battery producer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL).

"Bosch has years of experience in cooperating with premium carmakers. We are convinced that Bosch, through its enormous automotive competence, will become one of the most important partners of Byton," Byton Chief Executive Carsten Breitfeld said.

Bosch is a global automotive supplier to OEMs. The company generates 60 percent of its revenue from automotive components. Bosch is recognized as a pioneering developer of anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and traction control systems.

Byton is working on a futuristic electric SUV is calls the M-Byte concept along with a smaller vehicle named the K-Byte. The M-Byte features autonomous driving technology, an panoramic widescreen display that stretches across the dashboard, and other luxury interior features. The electric vehicle is currently being tested in China, the U.S. and Europe.

The Byton M-Byte Concept Vehicle

Both companies also plan to work together on brand advertising, product marketing, technology development, quality training, customer services and staff training, Byton said.

Byton has big plans to mass-produce its electric vehicles. Byton's core management team includes former employees of Tesla, BMW, Google and Apple with extensive experience in automotive engineering, electric powertrains and autonomous driving.

In June, Future Mobility Corporation (FMC), the Chinese parent company behind Byton, placed an order for a automotive paint shop capable of handling 150,000 cars per year from German supplier Duerr.

Also in June, Byton announced it successfully concluded a $500 million Series-B funding round. The company also opened its global headquarters in Nanjing, China as well as its North America headquarters in Silicon Valley.

Production of the M-Byte is expected to being in the fall of 2019.

FutureCar Staff