TOKYO (Reuters) – China’s BYD (SZ:) has launched its third electric vehicle in Japan, the company said on Tuesday. This is a sedan that will currently become the most expensive model on the market, where consumers have long preferred domestic brands.
The Shenzhen-based automaker said it began taking orders for its Seal EV in Japan on Tuesday, setting the country’s suggested retail price for the rear-wheel drive version of the car at 5.28 million yen ($33,111.75).
The price of the model in China starts from 179,800 yuan (24,759.70 US dollars).
The expansion of BYD, which stands for Build Your Dream, into Japan could pose a challenge for domestic automakers who are battling BYD and other Chinese electric vehicle brands in China.
The automaker has only introduced battery-powered vehicles to the Japanese market, but not vehicles with other powertrain technologies such as plug-in hybrids, in which it is a major player in China.
In Japan, it will offer rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, both of which will be equipped with an 82.56-kilowatt-per-hour battery pack, the company said in a press release.
The rear-wheel drive version has a range of 640 km (398 miles), while the 6.05 million yen all-wheel drive version can travel 575 km on a single charge.
Last year, BYD launched the Atto 3 and Dolphin electric vehicles in Japan, selling about 2,500 units in the country.
($1 = 159.4600 yen)
($1 = 7.2618 yuan)