Tesla’s Chinese rival BYD prepares to make electric vehicles in India
BYD, one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) companies, plans to start manufacturing in India soon. Despite tensions between India and China, BYD has expanded its business in the country. The company’s electric vehicles are getting a good response in India.
BYD has introduced the Sealion 7 electric SUV at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo. Rajeev Chauhan, head of BYD’s electric passenger vehicles business in the country, said that the company plans to start manufacturing when all conditions are in its favor. However, earlier BYD’s plan to set up an EV and battery manufacturing unit in the country with an investment of about one billion dollars in collaboration with a Hyderabad-based company was not approved by the central government. The company said that the visa restrictions on Chinese citizens in India have not affected its business.
BYD’s portfolio in the country includes Atto3, E Max 7 and Seal. However, BYD has not given information about the price of Sealion 7. Booking for this can be done for Rs 70,000. Its front design is similar to the company’s Seal sedan. Sealion 7 has a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment cluster. It has features like automatic climate control, 12-speaker audio system and panoramic sunroof. The battery of Sealion 7 is 82.56 kWh. Its AWD variant has a power of 523 hp and a peak torque of 690 Nm. The RWD variant of Sealion 7 has a single electric motor that generates 308 hp power and 380 Nm peak torque.
The company claims that the AWD variant of this electric SUV gives a range of about 542 km on a single charge and the RWD variant gives a range of about 567 km. Last year BYD has set a sales record. The company has sold about 42.5 lakh units. In the international market of EV, Elon Musk’s Tesla is facing tough competition from BYD. In the country, the company’s Seal EV has received a good response from the customers. It is available in two options of single and dual motor and two battery packs.
