BYD prepares to launch its premium brand early next year

BYD is pressing ahead with final stages of development of its premium 4x4 electric vehicles. The highly capable cars will be sold under a separate brand with prices starting at RMB 1 million - over $135,000.

Initially the company was planning to unveil the brand and the new vehicles towards the end of this year, but the latest reports suggest this has been postponed. According to Chinese media the company has already scheduled an official launch event for the first quarter of the next year.

The cars will be built on BYD’s bespoke platform and will use Huawei’s MDC computing hardware and software, according to some reports the cars will feature dual LiDAR sensors. The test vehicles have been spotted numerous times across China with photographers being able to snap quality shots of the car’s interior and underbody.

BYD has applied for many patents when it comes to this new off-road vehicle and one of them is quite telling of the car’s capabilities. According to the official paperwork, BYD's off-road truck will have a “float mode” which will allow it to cross water without worrying about its depth.

The cars will be powered by four electric motors with each wheel being able to turn independently with the “tank turn” being the most obvious application.

Yesterday BYD registered a new company under the name of Shenzhen Yangwang Automobile Sales Co Ltd with the activities listed as electric car sales, plug-in hybrid engine sales and charging posts sales. The rumors were BYD was going to name the new brand Xingji which means star in Chinese.

BYD is not sparing any expenses when it comes to this new vehicle and the new brand. It is going to be the very first all-electric hardcore offroader and some renderings on Chinese social media suggest it may look very much like the current Land Rover Defender. It will offer luxury for sure but its off-road capabilities are really interesting, at least on the paper.

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