Another Chinese carmaker is planning to launch in the UK.

BYD, which specialises in electric and plug-in hybrid cars, said it will be selling a two-car range here within four years.

The company said it is still deciding whether to appoint an independent company to handle the import and distribution of its cars in the UK or to establish a subsidiary.

However, it is already inviting dealers interested in taking on the BYD franchise to contact it.

“We are looking for any potential dealers or whole distributor in UK to help to launch our whole series of New Energy Vehicle in the near coming future,” company spokesman Elva Zhai told AM.

“We are now working on the local network now, any dealer are interest could contact us via www.byd.com”

Earlier this year, BYD and Daimler formed a technology partnership to develop a new electric vehicle for the Chinese market.

Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG, said: "We continue to push ahead as a global leader in electric mobility. Daimler’s know-how in electric vehicle architecture and BYD’s excellence in battery technology and e-drive systems are a perfect match."

The two cars that will be launched in the UK – both of which will be right-hand drive - will be an all-electric mid-sized hatch, known as the e6 and a plug-in hybrid compact saloon, called the F3DM.

The right-hand drive e6 will be launched in Hong Kong first before launching here. It will be sold with the battery pack included within the price and the car will be sold under the ‘BYD’ abbreviation rather than the full ‘Build Your Dreams’ brand.

It will be two or four-wheel drive and will have a claimed range of 200 miles between charges.

The F3DM, which sells in China for the equivalent of £17,000, combines a 1.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, which can power the car for 60 miles on its own before the petrol engine is needed.

There is no indication yet of the number or location of the dealers BYD wants to appoint, but it is likely they will be multi-franchise groups with locations in urban areas where demand for EVs will be the strongest.