After an initial approach in the name of electric BYD has also started to focus on Europe powertrain plug-instarting with the Seal U, the compact SUV also available in a battery-only version. A double track that on the one hand might seem counterintuitive, but on the other hand allows you to win over – or at least try to – even the most skeptical drivers towards electric vehicles.
He spoke about this and more to Autocar Stella Lipresident of BYD, anticipating the arrival in Europe of 3 new plug-in models. Accompanied by as many new purely “plug-in” models. Here’s what to expect.
Not just SUVs
And this is already news: in a market hungry for raised trims BYD wants to continue to focus on sedans, following the examples of Tesla (with Model 3 and Model S) and the German premium brands, which do not want to give up the classic three-box and station wagon bodies.
He didn’t specifically mention the three new plug-in cars coming next year, but Autocar did mention the sedans Seal 06 e Seal 07 – already available in China with DM-i technology, available in the Old Continent only on the Seal U – and the crossover Song-LThe Seal 06 features the fifth generation of the plug-in powertrain which – on paper and according to the Chinese homologation cycle – promises up to 2,100 km of combined range.
As mentioned, three new ones will also arrive BYD 100% electric. Again, Li did not name any names but among the main suspects are the Ocean-M (compact with a sporty look) and the Sea Lion 07 crossover.
Two faces of the thorn
Why this choice by BYD? According to Li, diversifying the offer regarding powertrains will help BYD to mitigate the impact of the import duties for Chinese electric cars in Europe, set at 17.4%. A problem that in the future will be solved at the root with the opening of factories in Europe, led by the Hungarian one scheduled to open in 2025.
The double choice of engines will then replicate what is already happening in China, where PHEV cars surpass – in terms of popularity – pure electric cars. Just think that out of 100 BYD “plug-in” cars sold, more than 50 are plug-insthe others are normal electric or with extended autonomy (with small thermal engines to power the batteries).
Source: it.motor1.com
