Tesla’s rival BYD achieves huge success, manufactures 1 crore vehicles
China’s BYD, which gives tough competition to American electric vehicle maker Tesla, has achieved a major milestone. The world’s largest EV maker has manufactured one crore New Energy Vehicles (NEV). These include electric vehicles as well as hybrid cars.
According to a media report, BYD recently became the largest EV maker by surpassing Tesla. It has been 30 years since BYD started. It has manufactured 50 lakh NEVs in about 15 years. This company started as a rechargeable battery maker. It started manufacturing electric vehicles in 2003. Its vehicles are sold in about 70 countries including India. The company has two manufacturing plants in Tamil Nadu. Recently, the company launched its new electric MPV eMax 7 in the country.
Apart from this, BYD’s Atto 3 electric SUV and Seal electric sedan are also sold in the country. The company has introduced Seal in three variants. It is available in two battery packs along with two options of single and dual motor. Its price is around Rs 41 lakh to Rs 53 lakh (ex-showroom). It has three variants – Premium, Dynamic and Performance. The company plans to rapidly expand its sales and service network in the country. Seal’s entry level Dynamic variant is with RWD setup. Its price is around Rs 41 lakh (ex-showroom). Its premium variant with RWD setup is priced at around Rs 45.55 lakh and the top-end Performance variant is priced at Rs 53 lakh.
It has been brought to the country as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). It is available in Arctic Blue, Aurora White, Atlantis Grey and Cosmos Black colours. Seal has a range of up to 650 km on a single charge. Its dynamic variant generates 201 bhp of power and 310 Nm of peak torque. Its premium variant has a maximum power of 308 bhp and torque of 360 Nm. Both motors of its performance variant generate a maximum power of 522 bhp and a torque of 670 Nm.