BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao has taken another step toward expanding its large SUV range after the Tai 9 appeared in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) vehicle catalog.
The six-seat plug-in hybrid SUV was included in the latest group of models awaiting approval for sale, bringing the largest vehicle in Fang Cheng Bao’s lineup closer to market launch.
The Tai 9 is powered by a 1.5-litre engine with a maximum net output of 110 kW and a dual-motor electric drivetrain.
Largest SUV In Fang Cheng Bao Lineup
The Tai 9 measures 5,270 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,880 mm high, with a wheelbase of 3,130 mm. Without roof rails, its height falls to 1,850 mm.
The dimensions make it larger than the Bao 8, currently Fang Cheng Bao’s biggest SUV. The Bao 8 measures 5,195 mm in length, 1,994 mm in width and 1,905 mm in height, with a 2,920-mm wheelbase.
The Tai 9 is also substantially larger than the Tai 7, which measures 4,999 mm long and has a 2,920-mm wheelbase.
Depending on configuration, the Tai 9 has a curb weight of 2,865 kg or 2,965 kg and a top speed of 220 km/h.
Dual Motors And 310-Km Electric Range
The plug-in hybrid uses permanent-magnet synchronous motors on both the front and rear axles. Each motor produces a peak 200 kW, giving the SUV an all-wheel-drive system with a combined peak motor output of 400 kW.
Energy is supplied by a lithium iron phosphate battery using cells from BYD’s FinDreams Battery division. The cells are expected to be based on the company’s second-generation Blade Battery technology.
The 66.48-kWh battery pack provides a claimed all-electric range of 310 km.
The battery weighs 487 kg, corresponding to an energy density of 136.5 Wh/kg.
The Tai 9 can be equipped with several large-wheel configurations, including 255/50R21, 255/45R22 and 275/45R22 tyres.
New DMS Platform Appears On Tai 9
Badging on the rear of the vehicle indicates that the Tai 9 will use BYD’s new DMS platform. The company has not yet disclosed detailed technical information about the platform.
Fang Cheng Bao released its first official teaser for the Tai 9 on Aug. 2. Xiong Tianbo, general manager of the business unit, said through Weibo that customers would not have to wait long for the vehicle.
The Tai 9 is expected to occupy a new position within the brand’s portfolio, providing a full-size SUV option between its rugged off-road models and more road-oriented family vehicles.
Fang Cheng Bao Expands Rapidly
Fang Cheng Bao currently markets the Bao 5 and Bao 8 toward buyers seeking rugged off-road capability, while the Tai 3 and Tai 7 are positioned more toward urban and family use.
The Tai 9 will add a larger, three-row model to that range.
BYD launched Fang Cheng Bao in August 2023 as a personalised sub-brand positioned between its Dynasty and Ocean product lines and its premium Yangwang marque.
The brand recorded 41,213 vehicle sales in July, representing a 190.64% increase from a year earlier, according to data compiled by CnEVPost. Sales for the first seven months reached 200,687 units.
The Tai 7 was Fang Cheng Bao’s best-selling model in July, with 27,320 deliveries. Its cumulative deliveries have exceeded 210,000 units around 11 months after its launch.
The Tai 9’s arrival would give Fang Cheng Bao another option at the upper end of China’s growing plug-in hybrid and large SUV market.