- More than 30,000 reservations arrived within the SUV’s first day.
- BYD’s second-gen Blade battery and 1,000-volt tech are featured.
- The most potent Great Tang delivers 784 hp through twin motors.
After several years of unimpeded growth, Chinese juggernaut BYD recently posted its eighth straight month of year-over-year sales declines, even with a barrage of new model launches trying to stem the bleeding. The Chinese giant clearly has growing pains, but one of its newest products is bucking the trend in spectacular fashion.
The company’s new, full-size, all-electric Great Tang SUV was presented earlier this year and showcased at the Beijing Auto Show two weeks ago. As the show opened, so did pre-sales for the EV, and in just two weeks, BYD has locked in more than 100,000 pre-sale orders for the Great Tang.
Read: BYD’s New Flagship Great Tang Charges From 10 To 97% In 9 Minutes
Of these, over 30,000 pre-sale orders were placed in the first 24 hours. These are extraordinary figures for a vehicle that’s even larger than the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 sold in the West. Clearly, the Chinese still have the appetite to buy luxurious SUVs when they’re priced right.
The entry-level Great Tang starts at 250,000 yuan or $36,700, a shockingly low figure given that it uses BYD’s new Super e platform, includes its second-generation Blade battery, and has a 1,000-volt electrical architecture. This model uses a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 496 hp, and can travel up to 590 miles (950 km) on a charge under China’s optimistic CLTC cycle.
Comfort For Seven
The flagship version is priced at 320,000 yuan ($47,000) and delivers 784 hp, laughing in the face of the most powerful versions of the Ioniq 9 and EV9.
Not only do buyers get plenty of power and advanced battery tech, which means the Great Tang can charge from 10 to 97 percent in just nine minutes, but they also get a cabin loaded with features. As standard, the latest BYD is sold in a 2+2+3 configuration and includes three front screens and a display that folds out from the headliner for rear passengers.