A new BYD electric SUV is due out in the first half of next year as the EV maker looks to top Tesla in sales. The BYD Yuan UP has leaked ahead of its official debut, giving us a sneak peek of what we can expect.
BYD Yuan Plus leaks as compact electric SUV
BYD continues its impressive sales streak. After selling over 170,000 EVs last month alone, BYD’s all-electric car sales reached 1.57 million through November.
The company continues releasing new EV models at an impressive pace. Its latest is a compact electric SUV called the Yuan UP.
At 4,310 mm (170″) long, 1,830 mm (72″) wide, and 1,675 mm (66″) tall, BYD’s Yuan Up is the smallest EV (and likely cheapest) from its “Yuan” series. It will be slightly smaller than Kia’s new compact EV5 electric SUV in China ( L – 4,615 mm, W – 1,875 mm, H – 1,715 mm).
The series includes the Yuan Plus (Atto 3 in overseas markets) and Yuan Pro. Although the new compact electric SUV isn’t due out until next year, leaked data from China’s MIIT revealed the new BYD EV.
According to the release, the new EV will come in two powertrain options: 70 kW or 130 kW. It will also include a BYD LFP Blade battery. Depending on the model, the new EV weighs either 1,805 kg (3,980 lbs) or 1,540 (3,395 lbs).
Although BYD has yet to officially reveal the new EV, prices are expected to start under 100,000 yuan ($14,000), given the Yuan Pro starts at 95,800 yuan ($13,350).
Electrek’s Take
BYD is closing in on Tesla as the global EV sales race intensifies. With over 335,655 EVs sold over the past two months, BYD is leading up to a solid end-of-year run.
Tesla aims to deliver 1.8 million EVs this year. Both automakers have slashed prices drastically this year to boost demand amid new completion.
Meanwhile, BYD has unveiled a series of new all-electric models as it expands the brand globally. BYD revealed two new mid-size electric SUVs, the Sea Lion 07 (pictured above) and Song L, that will rival Tesla’s Model Y.
BYD also launched its Seal electric sedan in Mexico last week to take on Tesla’s Model 3. The race into the end of the year is heating up as EV makers like BYD and Tesla continue stealing market share from legacy automakers.
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
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Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.