Fang Cheng Bao, the personalized sub-brand of BYD, has officially unveiled its inaugural model, the Bao 5, with the commencement of deliveries slated for this month.
The launch event, which took place recently, showcased the off-road SUV with three available variants, featuring starting prices of RMB 289,800 ($39,780), RMB 309,800, and RMB 352,800, respectively.
Having initiated pre-sales on August 25 during the Chengdu auto show, the plug-in hybrid model garnered attention with a pre-sale price range of RMB 300,000 – RMB 400,000 yuan. Notably, deliveries for the two lower-priced versions of the Bao 5 are scheduled to commence this month, while deliveries for the highest-priced variant are set to start in January 2024.
BYD introduced the Fang Cheng Bao brand alongside the DMO technology platform on August 16, with the Bao 5 making its official debut. The DMO platform, exclusive to Fang Cheng Bao, focuses on off-road capabilities, with ‘O’ signifying off-road and ‘DM’ for dual mode. This platform complements BYD’s existing hybrid technology platforms, including DM-i and DM-p, with a specific emphasis on fuel economy and performance, respectively. BYD’s pure electric vehicle platform is denoted as e-Platform 3.0.
The Bao 5, measuring 4,890 mm in length, 1,970 mm in width, and 1,920 mm in height, boasts a wheelbase of 2,800 mm. All three versions of the model share the same powertrain, featuring an engine that delivers 143 kW of maximum power and 273 Nm of maximum torque.
With dual electric motors, the Bao 5’s front motor generates 200 kW of peak power and 360 Nm of peak torque, while the rear motor contributes 285 kW of peak power and 400 Nm of peak torque. The combined powertrain yields a total power of 505 kW and a total torque of 760 Nm, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.
Equipped with an 83 L fuel tank and a 31.8 kWh battery pack, the Bao 5 exhibits a CLTC battery range of 125 km and a combined range of 1,200 km.
In a departure from BYD’s traditional dealership model, Fang Cheng Bao opts for directly-managed stores for its first batch of outlets, aligning with the prevalent sales model among China’s emerging automotive players. The brand has already opened 70 directly-managed stores, with an additional 80 expected to open within the year.
As BYD achieves record-breaking sales figures, with 301,833 new energy vehicles (NEVs) sold in October alone, marking the sixth consecutive month of record sales, the Bao 5 is poised to contribute to the company’s continued dominance in China’s NEV market. With a target of selling at least 3 million NEVs by 2023, BYD aims to sustain its robust performance, intensifying promotional efforts for several models this month to meet its ambitious goal.
