Budget-friendly Yuan Up model by BYD debuts, forsaking advanced autonomous driving features
BYD Introduces Affordable Variant of Yuan Up Electric SUV
Chinese automaker BYD has announced a new, more affordable variant of its compact electric SUV, the Yuan Up. This new model, priced at RMB 74,800 ($10,400), is part of BYD's efforts to expand its appeal to a broader range of potential customers.
The Yuan Up, first launched on March 26, 2024, has already been launched in multiple overseas markets under the name Atto 2, including Europe and Malaysia. However, sales of the Yuan family, which includes the Yuan Plus Smart Driving Edition and Yuan Plus Honor Edition, have seen significant declines over the past two months.
In contrast, the Yuan family sold 191,011 units in the first half of this year, up 11.96 percent year-on-year. The Yuan family contributes 8.90 percent of BYD Group's sales during the same period.
The new variant of the Yuan Up is a compact electric SUV, but it does not come with an smart driving system, unlike the other three variants which are equipped with the God's Eye C smart driving system. This is a shift in BYD's strategy, suggesting a focus on affordability.
The new variant features a 32-kWh battery pack and has a CLTC range of 301 kilometers, a reduction from the 45.12-kWh battery pack and 401-kilometer range of the other three variants.
BYD has been increasing its bet on intelligent driving capabilities. Earlier this year, the company launched 21 models equipped with driver assist systems. BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu stated that advanced smart driving capabilities would become as essential as seat belts and airbags in the next two to three years.
This move by BYD to offer a more affordable Yuan Up variant without the smart driving system indicates a tactical exception to capture more price-sensitive buyers. This could stimulate volume without the cost burden of advanced ADAS hardware and software on the base variant.
As of now, the Yuan family has sold a total of 1.5 million units. BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) is the company that introduced the new, more affordable variant of the Yuan Up.
In summary, BYD maintains a broad strategic push to embed smart driving technology widely but is selectively limiting these features on entry-level trims like the new Yuan Up Pilot edition to achieve competitive pricing and broaden market reach. This reflects a nuanced, tiered approach to smart driving feature deployment aligned with customer segments and price points.
- The Chinese automaker BYD has introduced a more affordable variant of its compact electric SUV, the Yuan Up, priced at RMB 74,800 ($10,400).
- The new variant of the Yuan Up is a part of BYD's efforts to expand its appeal to a broader range of potential customers.
- Unlike the other three variants of the Yuan Up, which are equipped with the God's Eye C smart driving system, the new variant does not come with an smart driving system.
- The new variant of the Yuan Up features a 32-kWh battery pack and has a CLTC range of 301 kilometers.
- This move by BYD to offer a more affordable Yuan Up variant without the smart driving system could stimulate volume without the cost burden of advanced ADAS hardware and software on the base variant.6.BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) is the company that introduced the new, more affordable variant of the Yuan Up.
- The new variant of the Yuan Up could potentially influence the electric-vehicle market, as well as the automotive, technology, transportation, lifestyle, and finance industries.
