BYD Auto, China’s leading electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturer headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen, announced this week it is launching a new sub-brand for premium, high-performance plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive vehicles and sports cars.
According to BYD founder and chairman, Wang Chuanfu, the newly-launched Fang Cheng Bao (Leopard) brand is designed to cater for the highly personalised needs of customers “wishing to display their status and individualism”.
The vehicles sold under the “Leopard” brand will be based on BYD's new DMO (dual-mode off-road) plug-in hybrid platform, which comes which a choice of 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged petrol engines. The company said the hybrid-electric powertrains have a power output of up to 500KW and a fuel consumption up to 35% lower compared with equivalent petrol-only vehicles.
BYD confirmed that the first Fang Cheng Bao production model, the Bao 5 off-roader, will be unveiled at this year’s Chengdu Motor Show which starts on 25th August.
Mr Wang told reporters “Fang Cheng Bao models will turn customer's dream into reality. We hope the brand will accelerate the transition of the EV industry”.
The company aims to have a sales network covering 60 first and second tier cities in China by the end of the year.
