Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD has unveiled a new seven-seat large electric SUV called the Great Tang, priced at 239,900 yuan (about $35,500) in the Chinese market.
The company unveiled the model in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, and touted it as the largest electric vehicle produced under the BYD brand. The new SUV is significantly cheaper than its premium rivals, such as the Aito M9 and Li Auto L9, which cost up to 500,000 yuan (about $74,000).
According to BYD, the car has received more than 150,000 pre-orders since its debut at the Beijing Auto Show. The company also said that production is facing difficulties due to high demand for its second-generation blade batteries.
The Great Tang model marks BYD's more aggressive entry into the premium market. While the company usually uses the Denza brand for its high-end segment, this time it has launched its flagship SUV under the main BYD brand.
The new model is also one of the most ambitious projects to test BYD’s 1,000-volt high-voltage platform. The long-range rear-wheel drive version is said to be capable of a range of up to 950 kilometers, according to CLTC tests.
